Detection of specific antibodies in human blastomycosis by enzyme immunoassay.

Abstract

Serologic tests for the diagnosis of blastomycosis have had inadequate sensitivity, but results are improved with enzyme immunoassay (EIA) with A-antigen of Blastomyces dermatitidis. The Premier Blastomyces EIA kit (Meridian Diagnostics Inc, Cincinnati, Ohio) detected antibody against the B dermatitidis A-antigen in sera from 104 of 125 patients (83%) with culture-proven blastomycosis. Semiquantitative index values (positivity multiplied by the dilution) ranged from 1.0 to 423.3; the degree of positivity correlated with disease activity. Immunodiffusion bands were infrequently detected, with positive specimens from only 19 (21%) of 92 patients with blastomycosis. In 8 of 24 patients with histoplasmosis, 24 of 51 specimens (47%) were positive for Blastomyces antibody by EIA; index values were lower, with a mean of 3.8 versus 24.3 for sera from patients with blastomycosis. Only 1 of 13 patients with other fungal infections had positive results with EIA. This EIA system provided better sensitivity than previously available commercial systems for serodiagnosis of blastomycosis.

• Authors: R W Bradsher, P G Pappas
• Journal: Southern medical journal (South Med J) Vol. 88 Issue 12 Pg. 1256-9 (Dec 1995) ISSN: 0038-4348 [Print] United States
• PMID: 7502120 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Antibodies, Fungal

Topics

• Antibodies, Fungal (isolation & purification)
• Blastomyces (immunology)
• Blastomycosis (diagnosis)
• Cross Reactions
• Humans
• Immunoenzyme Techniques
• Sensitivity and Specificity