Antibody Responses to Sarcoptes scabiei Apolipoprotein in a Porcine Model: Relevance to Immunodiagnosis of Recent Infection

Melanie Rampton, Shelley Faye Walton, Deborah Holt, Cielo Pasay, Andrew Kelly, Bart Currie, James McCarthy, Kate Mounsey

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

36 Citations (Scopus)
74 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

No commercial immunodiagnostic tests for human scabies are currently available, and existing animal tests are not sufficiently sensitive. The recombinant Sarcoptes scabiei apolipoprotein antigen Sar s 14.3 is a promising immunodiagnostic, eliciting high levels of IgE and IgG in infected people. Limited data are available regarding the temporal development of antibodies to Sar s 14.3, an issue of relevance in terms of immunodiagnosis. We utilised a porcine model to prospectively compare specific antibody responses to a primary infestation by ELISA, to Sar s 14.3 and to S. scabiei whole mite antigen extract (WMA). Differences in the antibody profile between antigens were apparent, with Sar s 14.3 responses detected earlier, and declining significantly after peak infestation compared to WMA. Both antigens resulted in >90% diagnostic sensitivity from weeks 8-16 post infestation. These data provide important information on the temporal development of humoral immune responses in scabies and further supports the development of recombinant antigen based immunodiagnostic tests for recent scabies infestations. 
Original languageEnglish
Article numbere65354
Pages (from-to)1-10
Number of pages10
JournalPLoS One
Volume8
Issue number6
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2013

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