A lateral flow assay for the immunodiagnosis of human cat‐transmitted sporotrichosis

Abstract

Background Cat‐transmitted sporotrichosis (CTS) caused by Sporothrix brasiliensis has emerged as an important zoonosis in Brazil and neighbouring countries. Objectives Evaluate the performance of a lateral flow assay (LFA) for the detection of anti‐Sporothrix antibodies in human sera. Methods A LFA for the detection of anti‐Sporothrix antibodies (Anti‐Sporo LFA) in human sera, developed by IMMY, was evaluated using 300 human sera collected prospectively at the Hospital de Clínicas, Federal University of Paraná (HC‐UFPR), in Curitiba, Brazil. These specimens included 100 sera from patients with CTS. CTS cases were classified as follows: 59 lymphocutaneous, 27 fixed cutaneous,13 ocular, and one mixed form. One‐hundred specimens from patients with other mycoses, including cryptococcosis (n = 32), candidemia (n = 27), paracoccidioidomycosis (n = 14), aspergillosis (n = 10), histoplasmosis (n = 9), fusariosis (n = 4), lobomycosis (n = 1), chromoblastomycosis (n = 1), mucormycosis (n = 1) and trichosporonosis (n = 1). And 100 specimens from apparently healthy volunteers (AHV). Results The Anti‐Sporo LFA showed a global sensitivity of 83% (95% confidence interval [CI] = 74%–90%), a global specificity of 82% (95% CI = 76%–87%), and accuracy of 82% (95% CI = 77%–86%). By clinical form sensitivity was as follows: Mixed form 100%, ocular 92%, lymphocutaneous 83% and fixed cutaneous 78%. False‐positive results were observed in 11 specimens from people with other mycoses and 26 specimens from AHV. Conclusion and discussion This study presents the results of the evaluation of the first lateral flow assay for the detection of anti‐Sporothrix antibodies in human sera. The findings here show evidence that IMMY's Anti‐Sporo LFA is a promising tool for the rapid diagnosis of CTS.

Esporotricosis en Argentina: análisis clínico y epidemiológico

“…El avance de esta micosis en ciertas áreas geográficas y la presencia de Sporothrix spp. en los gatos generó la investigación y la aplicación de técnicas rápidas para el diagnóstico de esta micosis (17). En un estudio llevado a cabo en Brasil, se realizó la detección de anticuerpos anti-Sporothrix por la técnica de inmunocromatografía en sueros de 100 pacientes con diferentes formas clínicas.…”

“…Esta técnica mostró una sensibilidad del 83 % y una especificidad del 82 %. Estos resultados evidenciaron que Anti-Sporo LFA, IMMY® es una herramienta prometedora para el diagnóstico rápido de esta micosis (17).…”

Public Health Research Priorities for Fungal Diseases: A Multidisciplinary Approach to Save Lives

“…Sporotrichosis is frequently misdiagnosed; cases are frequently symptomatic for more than half a year before sporotrichosis diagnosis and treatment [ 106 ]. A promising LFA for CTS has been developed, which may decrease misdiagnoses; however, it is not widely available, and further assessment is needed [ 107 ].…”

Immunologic Diagnosis of Endemic Mycoses

“…The test showed an accuracy of 82%, with sensitivity values dependent on sporotrichosis clinical forms. The sensitivity was greater for extracutaneous disease (92% sensitivity for ocular sporotrichosis) and lower for fixed-cutaneous sporotrichosis (78% sensitivity) [ 171 ].…”