Development of an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for the serodiagnosis of several clinical forms of sporotrichosis

Med Mycol. 2005 Sep;43(6):487-93. doi: 10.1080/13693780400019909.

Abstract

We performed a serological study with sera from 92 patients with confirmed sporotrichosis registered between 1999 and 2004 in two hospitals in Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil. The clinical presentation of sporotrichosis was distributed as follows: lymphocutaneous, 67%; fixed cutaneous, 23%; disseminated cutaneous, 8%; and extracutaneous, 2%. Sera were assayed by ELISA against a cell wall antigen of Sporothrix schenckii, SsCBF, that we have previously described. The cross-reactivity was determined with 77 heterologous sera. The serological test showed a sensitivity of 90% and a global efficiency of 86%. A group of 55 patients with several clinical presentations of sporotrichosis was clinically and serologically followed-up for at least 6 months. We observed by ELISA data a decrease in the antibody serum titers which correlated with the progress in healing. An HIV-positive patient with meningeal sporotrichosis was serologically followed-up for over 2 years. Serum and cerebrospinal fluid specimens were examined and significant antibodies levels against the antigen SsCBF were detected. Our results strongly suggest that this serological test is valuable for the differential diagnosis and follow-up of all clinical forms of sporotrichosis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / microbiology
  • Antibodies, Fungal / blood
  • Antibodies, Fungal / cerebrospinal fluid
  • Antigens, Fungal / chemistry*
  • Cell Wall
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / methods*
  • Glycopeptides / chemistry
  • HIV Infections / microbiology
  • Humans
  • Plant Proteins
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Sporothrix / growth & development*
  • Sporotrichosis / blood
  • Sporotrichosis / cerebrospinal fluid
  • Sporotrichosis / diagnosis*

Substances

  • Antibodies, Fungal
  • Antigens, Fungal
  • Glycopeptides
  • INH protein, Nicotiana tabacum
  • Plant Proteins