Skip to main content
PMC home page
Applied Microbiology logoLink to Applied Microbiology
. 1968 Dec;16(12):1907–1912. doi: 10.1128/am.16.12.1907-1912.1968

Value and Interpretation of Serological Tests for the Diagnosis of Cryptococcosis

Leo Kaufman 1, Sharon Blumer 1
PMCID: PMC547794  PMID: 4881961

Abstract

Maximal serological diagnosis of cryptococcosis may be accomplished through the concurrent use of three tests: the latex agglutination (LA) test for cryptococcal antigen, and the indirect fluorescent antibody (IFA) and tube agglutination (TA) tests for Cryptococcus neoformans antibodies. These tests were applied to 141 serum and cerebral spinal fluid specimens from 66 culturally proven cases of cryptococcosis and to 42 sera from normal subjects and from patients with other systemic mycotic diseases. The LA test was sensitive and completely specific; of the sera from proven cases, 55% were positive. With the TA test, 37% of the specimens were positive and the test was highly specific. With the IFA test, 38% of the specimens were positive and the test appears to be the least specific of the three. Cross-reactions were most evident with blastomycosis and histoplasmosis case sera. When the three tests were used concurrently, 87% of the cryptococcosis case specimens were positive and permitted a presumptive diagnosis of C. neoformans infections in 61 (92%) of the 66 patients whose specimens were examined.

Full text

PDF
1909

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. Ajello L. Comparative ecology of respiratory mycotic disease agents. Bacteriol Rev. 1967 Mar;31(1):6–24. doi: 10.1128/br.31.1.6-24.1967. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Atkinson A. J., Jr, Bennett J. E. Experience with a new skin test antigen prepared from Cryptococcus neoformans. Am Rev Respir Dis. 1968 Apr;97(4):637–643. doi: 10.1164/arrd.1968.97.4.637. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. BENNINGTON J. L., HABER S. L., MORGENSTERN N. L. INCREASED SUSCEPTIBILITY TO CRYPTOCOCCOSIS FOLLOWING STEROID THERAPY. Dis Chest. 1964 Mar;45:262–263. doi: 10.1378/chest.45.3.262. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. BLOOMFIELD N., GORDON M. A., ELMENDORF D. F., Jr DETECTION OF CRYPTOCOCCUS NEOFORMANS ANTIGEN IN BODY FLUIDS BY LATEX PARTICLE AGGLUTINATION. Proc Soc Exp Biol Med. 1963 Oct;114:64–67. doi: 10.3181/00379727-114-28586. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. EMANUEL B., CHING E., LIEBERMAN A. D., GOLDIN M. Cryptococcus meningitis in a child successfully treated with amphotericin B, with a review of the pediatric literature. J Pediatr. 1961 Oct;59:577–591. doi: 10.1016/s0022-3476(61)80243-6. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. Gordon M. A., Vedder D. K. Serologic tests in diagnosis and prognosis of cryptococcosis. JAMA. 1966 Sep 19;197(12):961–967. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. Kaufman L., Blumer S. Development and evaluation of agglutination and fluorescent antibody procedures for the identification of Cryptococcus neoformans. Sabouraudia. 1965 Jun;4(2):57–64. doi: 10.1080/00362176685190171. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. Kaufman L., Terry R. T., Schubert J. H., McLaughlin D. Effects of a single histoplasmin skin test on the serological diagnosis of histoplasmosis. J Bacteriol. 1967 Oct;94(4):798–803. doi: 10.1128/jb.94.4.798-803.1967. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. Kimball H. R., Hasenclever H. F., Wolff S. M. Detection of circulating antibody in human cryptococcosis by means of a bentonite flocculation technique. Am Rev Respir Dis. 1967 Apr;95(4):631–637. doi: 10.1164/arrd.1967.95.4.631. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. LITTMAN M. L., SCHNEIERSON S. S. Cryptococcus neoformans in pigeon excreta in New York City. Am J Hyg. 1959 Jan;69(1):49–59. doi: 10.1093/oxfordjournals.aje.a119980. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. VOGEL R. A., PADULA J. F. Indirect staining reaction with fluorescent antibody for detection of antibodies to pathogenic fungi. Proc Soc Exp Biol Med. 1958 May;98(1):135–139. doi: 10.3181/00379727-98-23965. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. Vogel R. A. The indirect fluorescent antibody test for the detection of antibody in human cryptococcal disease. J Infect Dis. 1966 Dec;116(5):573–580. doi: 10.1093/infdis/116.5.573. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. Walter J. E., Jones R. D. Serodiagnosis of clinical cryptococcosis. Am Rev Respir Dis. 1968 Feb;97(2):275–282. doi: 10.1164/arrd.1968.97.2.275. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from Applied Microbiology are provided here courtesy of American Society for Microbiology (ASM)

RESOURCES