Diphtheria toxin 5S IgG plus ELISA

Enzyme immunoassay for the quantitative determination of IgG class antibodies against Corynebacterium diphtheriae toxin in human serum or plasma (citrate). Corynebacteria are aerobic non spore-forming gram-positive rods of irregular shape (0.5 –1 μm thick and 2- 6 μm long). They comprise skin commensals, opportunist pathogens and several major pathogens, including Corynebacterium diphtheriae. In general, they are isolated from throat swabs on selective media containing tellurite. The bacterial infection caused by C. diphtheriae, Diphtheria, has two forms. Respiratory diphtheria is typically caused by toxin-producing (toxigenic) strains; cutaneous disease can be caused by either toxigenic or nontoxigenic strains. In the respiratory form of the disease, a membrane is formed; this membrane is usually visible on the throat or tonsils. Persons may die from asphyxiation when the membrane obstructs breathing. Other complications are caused by remote effects of the diphtheria toxin (myocarditis, nerve paralysis) Cutaneous diphtheria is usually mild, typically consisting of non-distinctive sores or shallow ulcers and only rarely involving toxic complications (1-2% of infections with toxigenic strains). Diphtheria was one of the most common causes of death among children during the prevaccine era. Since the introduction and widespread use of diphtheria toxoid vaccine (formalin-inactivated diphtheria toxin) in most industrialized countries the disease is now characterized by sporadic cases and intermittent outbreaks of low intensity. But recent large epidemics of diphtheria in several eastern European countries have again drawn attention to this „forgotten“ disease – and, the majority of these cases have occurred among adolescents and adults instead of children.