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Antibodies to meningococcus in serum
Last reviewed: 23.04.2024
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The diagnostic titer of antibodies to meningococcus for RPGA - 1:40 (1:20 in children under 1 year) and above.
The causative agent of meningococcal infection is Gram-negative diplococcus Neisseria meningitis. There are five serological types of meningococcus: A, B, C, D and E. In the period of epidemics, type A prevails, in the extra-epidemic period - type B. In the diagnosis of meningococcal infection, the bacteriological method of investigation is the most important. However, cultivation of meningococci and their isolation in pure culture is only possible in 30-40% of cases. In connection with this, serological methods are used for diagnostics - detection of Neisseria meningitis antigens in the CSF or antibodies in serum. To detect antibodies, a number of methods are used, the most sensitive and informative of them are RPHA and ELISA, group-specific polysaccharides are used as antigens.
The serum of the patient's blood is examined on the 1-3 day from the onset of the disease and on the 7-10th day. The increase in the antibody titer is estimated to be diagnostic in 7-10 days not less than 4 times. Usually, from the 5th-6th day of the disease, antibody titers detected in the RPHA reach 1: 200 and higher.
The detection of antibodies to meningococcus is used for the diagnosis of meningococcal infection, for bacterial and serous meningitis, as well as for urethritis.
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