ABSTRACT
Three techniques for the diagnosis of mammary aspergillosis in ewes were compared: indirect ELISA to detect the level of anti-Aspergillus IgG in serum, determination of galactomannan (Platelia procedure), and detection of DNA of Aspergillus in serum by a nested PCR. Twenty sera from proven cases of aspergillosis in ewes were positive using ELISA (100%), 80% were positive using PCR, but only 55% were positive using Platelia. All 20 control sera were negative using ELISA and PCR, whereas using Platelia methodology one was positive and the other doubtful. The detection of antibody by ELISA in sera is therefore a reliable criterion for the diagnosis of mammary aspergillosis in ewes. Platelia showed the same deficiencies reported in humans, with the appearance of false positives and negatives. The use of PCR was promising and might have valuable application in human medicine.
Subject(s)
Aspergillosis/diagnosis , Aspergillosis/veterinary , Aspergillus fumigatus/isolation & purification , Mastitis/veterinary , Sheep Diseases/microbiology , Animals , Antibodies, Fungal/blood , Aspergillosis/blood , Aspergillosis/microbiology , Aspergillus fumigatus/genetics , DNA, Fungal/chemistry , DNA, Fungal/genetics , Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay/veterinary , Female , Galactose/analogs & derivatives , Mannans/blood , Mastitis/blood , Mastitis/microbiology , Polymerase Chain Reaction/veterinary , Sheep , Sheep Diseases/blood , Sheep Diseases/immunologyABSTRACT
We investigated the application of two different nested PCR methodologies for the diagnosis of invasive aspergillosis, by studying the possible cross-reactions among different fungal species and genera. The sensitivity obtained using both techniques can be considered adequate, although we obtained amplified products from fungal genera other than Aspergillus, showing the presence of cross-reactions with fungal DNA.
Subject(s)
Aspergillus/chemistry , DNA, Fungal/analysis , Polymerase Chain Reaction/methods , Aspergillosis/diagnosis , Aspergillosis/microbiology , Aspergillus/isolation & purification , Cross Reactions , Fungi/chemistry , Fungi/isolation & purification , Humans , Sensitivity and Specificity , Species SpecificityABSTRACT
One case of severe canine onychomycosis is described. The aetiological agent was identified as Microsporum gypseum. The incidence of this fungus in this kind of pathology is discussed, with special attention to the successful treatment with topic enilconazole and systemic griseofulvin.
