Detection of IgM and IgG antibodies by indirect enzyme linked immunosorbent assay during Neisseria meningitidis group A infection

To assess the immune response during infection of N. meningitidis group A in children, IgM and IgG were detected in serum samples of 50 suspected patients of meningococcal disease vis-a-vis 71 controls. Indirect enzyme linked immunosorbent assay involving whole cell lysate antigen was used.The meningococcal patients had higher prevalence of IgG than IgM. The results indicated that the patients had developed immune response prior to admission. Low prevalence of IgM in any category of meningococcal patients might be due to either differences in antigen presentation or some impairment in immune response at the level of IgM production due to disease. The detection of IgG appeared to be a reliable criterion for serodiagnosis of meningitis.