ABSTRACT
Using experimental reference sera against species-specific antigens of Aspergillus fumigatus and Paracoccidioides brasiliensis in a microdouble diffusion technique, a simple and specific test for the immunodiagnosis of aspergillosis and paracoccidioidomycosis has been developed. Only sera that produced lines of identity with either one of the bands formed by the anti-C2 or the anti-E2 reference sera were considered positive for aspergillosis or paracoccidioidomycosis, respectively. The sensitivity of the diagnostic test was similar to those of the classical double diffusion and the immunoelectrophoresis test. No false positives were found in sera obtained from patients affected by other mycoses, nor from healthy controls. The amount of reagents for the specific test was ten fold less than that required by the classical double diffusion test.
Subject(s)
Aspergillosis/diagnosis , Immunodiffusion/methods , Paracoccidioidomycosis/diagnosis , Aspergillus fumigatus , Humans , Immune SeraABSTRACT
Trichophyton soudanense is a dermatophyte wich is of highest incidence in Africa. Cases of tinea produced by this fungus have been described in England, Switzerland, Germany, Australia, the United States and Brazil. This investigation reports the first isolation of this fungus in Venezuela, from a lesion of the nail in a female patient who has always resided in Venezuela. The identification of this fungus was based on macroscopic and microscopic morphological characteristics; biological properties, scare or no growth when the only nitrogen source in the culture medium is provided by potassium or ammonium nitrate, and the production of dark pigment when inoculated in Lowenstein-Jensen medium. Experimental innoculation in animals produced an endothrix parasitism of the hair. Reference is made ot the incidence of the most frequently occuring dermatophytes in Venezuela.
