Comparison of a Newly Developed Latex Agglutination Test and an Immunodiffusion Test in the Diagnosis of Systemic Candidiasis

Abstract

A newly developed latex agglutination (LA) test and a modified immunodiffusion (ID) test were evaluated. The antigen used was a homogenate of Candida albicans . A total of 167 antisera were employed in the evaluation. They included 36 sera from clinically well persons; 78 from patients with various clinical forms of candidiasis; 52 from patients with proven cases of aspergillosis, blastomycosis, coccidioidomycosis, cryptococcosis, histoplasmosis, nocardiosis, paracoccidioidomycosis, sporotrichosis, and tuberculosis; and one serum from a patient with toruloposis. Use of the LA test in conjunction with the ID test permitted the detection of more than 90% of 43 proven candidiasis cases. Of all the heterologous cases and normal human sera tested, LA reactions were noted with 3 of 10 cryptococcosis case specimens, 1 of 9 tuberculosis case specimens, and with the torulopsemia case serum. In contrast, the only heterologous serum reactive in the ID test was that from the patient with torulopsemia. Torulopsis glabrata and C. albicans antisera gave identical reactions in LA and ID tests with T. glabrata or C. albicans antigens. ID tests with selected antigens, however, permitted differentiation of rabbit and human T. glabrata antibody from that of C. albicans antibody. Six different precipitins were recognized with the C. albicans antigens. The occurrence of multiple precipitin lines and high LA titers was suggestive of severe candidiasis. The LA test, in contrast to the ID test, appeared to have prognostic value. Together, the LA and ID tests provided a simple, rapid, and accurate means of detecting and monitoring infections by species of Candida .

Experimental Candida albicans endocarditis: characterization of the disease and response to therapy

“…Recent studies (3, 5, 10-12, 14, 17, 20-22) have shown that the detection of agglutinating and precipitating antibody to extracts of Candida species indicates Candida infection. Tests using a cytoplasmic antigen preparation seem especially predictive of systemic candidiasis, including Candida endocarditis (10,11,17,20).Even with early diagnosis, therapy with amphotericin B alone is rarely sucessful, and valve replacement is necessary for cure. Amphotericin B and 5-fluorocytosine (5-FC) in combination have been reported to be synergistic in vitro with some strains and have been successfully used in several patients without valve replacement (E. Rubinstein et al, Program…”

“…Recent studies (3, 5, 10-12, 14, 17, 20-22) have shown that the detection of agglutinating and precipitating antibody to extracts of Candida species indicates Candida infection. Tests using a cytoplasmic antigen preparation seem especially predictive of systemic candidiasis, including Candida endocarditis (10,11,17,20).…”

Detection of candida serum precipitins by counterimmunoelectrophoresis: an adjunct in determining significant candidiasis

“…DISCUSSION Candidiasis is the most common fungal infection in compromised hosts, a situation made more ominous by the difficulty in establishing antemortem diagnosis (2-5, 7, 9, 10). Although the DID technique for candida serum precipitin detection has been shown to be of great specificity, it may take from 24 to 96 h for a positive reaction to be discernible (8,(13)(14)(15). Remington et al ( 12) demonstrated the detectio7n of candida serum precipitins by CIE in patients with significant candidiasis.…”

Denture Stomatitis : A Comprehensive Diagnostic Approach

“…Clinical features: Denture stomatitis may be graded clinically into three types. (stickle, Kaufman and Blumer, 1972) Type I: Pinpoint hyperaemia and diffuse inflammation of a limited area of the mucosa in an otherwise normal tissue.…”