Diagnostic Specificity of Immunoglobulin M (IgM) Response in Differentiating Legionnaires' Disease from Psittacosis

Abstract

Specific IgM and IgG antibody responses to Legionella pneumophila (LDB) and Chlamydia psittaci (PSI) in serum specimens from 22 cases of Legionnaires' Disease (LD) were examined by micro-immunofluorescence (IF) tests to explore the diagnostic significance of the IgM antibody response. Serial samples from 5 patients with LD showed ≥4-fold changes in IgG antibody against LDB and PSI. All 5 patients possessed IgM antibodies against LDB but not against PSI. In single convalescent serum samples from 17 additional cases, 16 exhibited IgG and 15 showed IgM antibodies against LDB; all 17 exhibited IgG but not IgM antibodies against PSI. The IgM antibody response appears more specific than the corresponding IgG response in the serodiagnosis of LD, and may be valuable in differentiating LDB infections from those due to PSI.