Evaluation of immunohistochemistry for the diagnosis of sporotrichosis in dogs

Vet J. 2011 Dec;190(3):408-11. doi: 10.1016/j.tvjl.2010.12.004. Epub 2011 Jan 8.

Abstract

The aim of this study was to apply immunohistochemistry (IHC) for the diagnosis of canine sporotrichosis and to compare this method with the Grocott's silver stain (GSS) and periodic acid Schiff (PAS) techniques. Eighty-seven dogs with sporotrichosis (group 1) and 35 with American tegumentary leishmaniosis (ATL) (group 2) were studied. The fungus was detected in group 1 by GSS, PAS and IHC. IHC was also applied to group 2 to evaluate the occurrence of cross-reactions. PAS, GSS and IHC detected yeast cells in 19.5%, 43.7% and 65.5% of the group 1 cases, respectively. The detection of intracellular antigens of Sporothrix schenckii by IHC increased the sensitivity of the histological diagnosis to 80.5%. No positive reaction was observed in ATL lesions. The results suggest that IHC may be indicated for the diagnosis of sporotrichosis because of its higher diagnostic sensitivity.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antigens, Bacterial / isolation & purification
  • Cross Reactions
  • Dog Diseases / diagnosis*
  • Dogs
  • Immunohistochemistry / methods
  • Immunohistochemistry / veterinary*
  • Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous / veterinary
  • Periodic Acid-Schiff Reaction / methods
  • Periodic Acid-Schiff Reaction / veterinary
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Silver Staining / methods
  • Silver Staining / veterinary
  • Skin / microbiology
  • Sporothrix / immunology
  • Sporotrichosis / diagnosis
  • Sporotrichosis / veterinary*

Substances

  • Antigens, Bacterial