Brucellosis IgА

Brucellosis is an infectious disease caused by bacteria of the genus brucella, characterized by multiple lesions of human organs. The disease is transmitted through contact with farm animals and the consumption of animal products: milk, meat, cheese, cottage cheese. The source are: goats, sheep, cows and pigs. Three species of brucella are dangerous to humans: Brucella abortus (cattle), B.melitensis (small cattle), B.suis (pork).

The symptoms of brucellosis are very diverse and manifest, on average, within two weeks from the moment of infection. The manifestations are extremely variable and nonspecific, which makes it difficult to make a diagnosis. In general, the symptoms of brucellosis resemble the influenza: Fever; Chills; General weakness, malaise, headache, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or constipation; Loss of appetite; Pain in muscles, joints; Swelling of joints; Cough and shortness of breath with lung involvement.

The test relates to the serological diagnosis of infectious diseases. The test material is blood, in which antibodies to the pathogen are detected. Antibodies are components of the body's immune system that are produced to destroy a particular foreign protein-antigen. In this case, the antigen is brucella (B. abortus, B.suis, B.melitensis). There are several types of antibodies: IgA, IgD, IgE, IgG and IgM. However, the immune system cannot always cope with brucellosis, even with very high concentrations of antibodies. Each of these antibodies has its own function and its own period of occurrence.

IgA is produced as early as 5 days after infection. IgА peaks at 1-2 weeks, then there is a gradual decrease in their number and after 2-3 months the antibodies disappear completely even without treatment (IgG replaces them). If during the chronic course of brucellosis there is an exacerbation - IgA reappears. 
IgG is produced 15-20 days after infection and may persist in small amounts for long periods of time. After re-infection, the antibody titer rises again.

Read more about brucellosis in the article: "The silent epidemic of brucellosis"