Thepthai, CharinSmithtikarn, SaijaiSuksuwan, MontanaSongsivilai, SirirurgDharakul, Tararaj2009-05-272009-05-272005-12-29Thepthai C, Smithtikarn S, Suksuwan M, Songsivilai S, Dharakul T. Serodiagnosis of melioidosis by a competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay using a lipopolysaccharide-specific monoclonal antibody. Asian Pacific Journal of Allergy and Immunology. 2005 Jun-Sep; 23(2-3): 127-32http://imsear.searo.who.int/handle/123456789/36888Published by the Allergy and Immunology Society of Thailand.Burkholderia pseudomallei is the causative agent of melioidosis, a severe and potentially fatal infectious disease in humans known to be endemic in Southeast Asia and northern Australia. The infection is also increasingly recognized in various animal species with a potential to spread to humans. With the potential as a biological warfare agent, specific serodiagnosis of melioidosis for surveillance in large populations at risk, humans or animals, would be highly valuable. In this study, a competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using a lipopolysaccharide-specific monoclonal antibody was developed. The assay provides high specificity, based on a previously described monoclonal antibody to a specific epitope on the lipopolysaccharide (LPS) of B. pseudomallei. The assay sensitivity of 96.0% and specificity of 100% were achieved at a cutoff value of 50% inhibition in human culture-proven melioidosis cases. An optimal cutoff value of 65% inhibition for sera from a melioidosis endemic area was obtained by ROC analysis and resulted in an assay specificity of 86.2%, while maintaining assay sensitivity of 92.0%. A potential application of the assay in the serodiagnosis of melioidosis in animal species was also evaluated usina dolphin sera with satisfactory results.engAnimalsAntibodies, Bacterial --immunologyAntibodies, Monoclonal --diagnostic useAntigen-Antibody Reactions --immunologyAntigens, Bacterial --immunologyBurkholderia pseudomallei --immunologyEndemic DiseasesEnzyme-Linked Immunosorbent AssayHumansLipopolysaccharides --immunologyMelioidosis --diagnosisSensitivity and SpecificitySerologic TestsThailand --epidemiologyComparative Study