Abstract
An antigen analysis with filtrate and homogenate precipitinogens of single isolates of the zygomycetes Absidia corymbifera, Mucor pusillus, Rhizopus arrhizus, and Rhizopus oryzae demonstrated the presence of common antigens among the three genera as well as antigens which permit their differentiation. Selected homogenate antigens were valuable in developing a diagnostic immunodiffusion (ID) test for systemic zygomycosis. When sera from 43 patients with various proven mycoses other than zygomycosis were tested against each of the antigens, none formed precipitin bands identical to those formed by A. cormybifera, M. pusillus, and the Rhizopus spp. rabbit reference antisera. Sera from 23 normal persons and 25 diabetics did not react with any of the antigens. Homogenate antigens detected antibody in 8 of the 11 sera (73%) from suspected or proven cases of zygomycosis, whereas ID tests with filtrate antigens detected antibody in only 2 of the 11 sera (18%). Of the eight sera that reacted with the homogenate antigens, five only reacted with a specific Rhizopus sp. antigen, two only reacted with a specific M. pusillus antigen, and one only reacted with a specific A. corymbifera antigen. Study results show the ID test with homogenate antigens to be more specific and sensitive than the ID test with filtrate antigens and indicate that the former is a promising technique for diagnosing human zygomycosis.
Full text
PDF
Images in this article
Selected References
These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.
- Ajello L., Dean D. F., Irwin R. S. The zygomycete Saksenaea vasiformis as a pathogen of humans with a critical rewiew of the etiology of zygomycosis. Mycologia. 1976 Jan-Feb;68(1):52–62. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Busey J. F., Hinton P. F. Precipitins in histoplasmosis. Am Rev Respir Dis. 1965 Oct;92(4):637–639. doi: 10.1164/arrd.1965.92.4.637. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- LANDAU J. W., NEWCOMER V. D. Acute cerebral phycomycosis (mucormycosis). Report of a pediatric patient successfully treated with amphotericin B and cycloheximide and review of the pertinent literature. J Pediatr. 1962 Sep;61:363–385. doi: 10.1016/s0022-3476(62)80368-0. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- LOWRY O. H., ROSEBROUGH N. J., FARR A. L., RANDALL R. J. Protein measurement with the Folin phenol reagent. J Biol Chem. 1951 Nov;193(1):265–275. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Standard P. G., Kaufman L. Specific immunological test for the rapid identification of members of the genus Histoplasma. J Clin Microbiol. 1976 Feb;3(2):191–199. doi: 10.1128/jcm.3.2.191-199.1976. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]