Short reviewEarly detection of Toxoplasma gondii infection by using a interferon gamma release assay: A review

•Interferon-gamma release assay (IGRA) was introduced as an in vitro test detecting T. gondii infection.•Few studies have investigated the potential role of cell immunity in diagnosis of toxoplasmosis.•IGRA accurately distinguished infected from uninfected individuals after in vitro stimulatoion with T. gondii antigens, even during the first days of life.•IGRA is an easy-operation and low-cost method to measure cell mediated immunity against T. gondii.•These results underline the importance of evaluating cellular immunity for early diagnosis of toxoplasmosis.•ELISA-based IGRA holds the potential to become a useful diagnostic tool for early detection of T. gondii.

Antibody-based serological tests are currently the most common diagnostic methods for detection of Toxoplasma gondii; however, these tests bear several limitations. Recently, Interferon-gamma release assay (IGRA), a T-cell-based test, was introduced as an in vitro test for detection of T. gondii infection. Few studies have investigated the potential role of cell immunity in diagnosis of toxoplasmosis. IGRA accurately distinguished infected from uninfected individuals, showing strong lymphocyte activation after in vitro stimulation with T. gondii antigens, even during the first days of life. IGRA is an easy-operation and low-cost method to measure cell mediated immunity against T. gondii. The results of this review underline the importance of evaluating cellular immunity to establish an early diagnosis particularly for congenital toxoplasmosis. Therefore, ELISA-based IGRA holds the potential to become a useful diagnostic tool for early detection of T. gondii infection.

Graphical abstractDownload high-res image (159KB)Download full-size image