DETECTION OF PRECIPITATING ANTIBODIES TO HISTOPLASMA-CAPSULATUM BY COUNTERIMMUNOELECTROPHORESIS

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Abstract
Counterimmunoelectrophoresis [CI] was evaluated for its usefulness in the detection of precipitating antibodies to H. capsulatum, designated h and m precipitin bands. Patients (44) with active histoplasmosis had m bands or h and m bands. The h precipitin band occurred primarily in patients with disseminated disease, chronic pulmonary disease or mediastinal lymphadenopathy of several months'' duration; with resolution of the infection, this antibody disappeared. The m band appeared earlier in the course of histoplasmosis and persisted for months to years after resolution of the infection. Antibodies detected by CI were in the immunoglobulin G class and were more specific for histoplasmosis than those detected by the complement fixation test. Only 1 false positive h band occurred in 81 sera tested (specimens from 24 healthy control subjects and 57 patients with other diseases). CI was more sensitive and quicker than immunodiffusion at detecting h and m antibodies. Combining this assay with standard complement fixation tests and fungal culture methods should lead to the accurate, rapid diagnosis of histoplasmosis.