Evaluation of cross-reactions in Histoplasma capsulatum serologic tests

J Clin Microbiol. 1986 Mar;23(3):493-9. doi: 10.1128/jcm.23.3.493-499.1986.

Abstract

Cross-reactivity in Histoplasma serologic tests was evaluated by using sera from patients with histoplasmosis and other infections. Serum samples from 127 of 134 (95%) patients with histoplasmosis were judged positive by complement fixation tests, and 121 (90%) showed H bands, M bands, or both by immunodiffusion. Of these 134 patients, cross-reactions were seen to Blastomyces dermatitidis in 53 patients (40%), to Coccidioides immitis in 20 patients (16%), and to Aspergillus fumigatus in 3 patients (2%) by complement fixation. Serum samples from 5 of 99 patients (5%) with other fungal infections and from 5 of 46 patients (11%) with tuberculosis had M precipitin bands by the Histoplasma immunodiffusion test, whereas none of the 123 sera from patients with other bacterial, Mycoplasma, or viral infections showed H or M precipitin bands. In the complement fixation test, positive reactions were observed in 16 of 90 patients (18%) with other fungal infections, in 14 of 41 patients (34%) with tuberculosis, and in 18 of 105 patients (17%) with other bacterial, Mycoplasma, or viral infections. Positive reactions were seen by radioimmunoassay in 54 of 110 patients (49%) with other fungal infections, in 23 of 46 patients (50%) with tuberculosis, and in 35 of 123 patients (28%) with with other bacterial, Mycoplasma, or viral infections. These results demonstrate a wider range of cross-reactions in Histoplasma serology than has been previously recognized, and the cross-reactivity was greatest when observed by radioimmunoassay. Caution should be exercised in the interpretation of serologic data from patients with suspected fungal infections.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Antibodies, Fungal / analysis
  • Antibodies, Fungal / immunology*
  • Antigens, Bacterial / immunology
  • Antigens, Fungal / immunology*
  • Aspergillus fumigatus / immunology
  • Blastomyces / immunology
  • Coccidioides / immunology
  • Complement Fixation Tests
  • Cross Reactions
  • Epitopes
  • Evaluation Studies as Topic
  • Histoplasma / immunology*
  • Histoplasma / isolation & purification
  • Histoplasmosis / diagnosis*
  • Histoplasmosis / immunology
  • Histoplasmosis / microbiology
  • Humans
  • Immunodiffusion
  • Mycoplasma / immunology
  • Radioimmunoassay

Substances

  • Antibodies, Fungal
  • Antigens, Bacterial
  • Antigens, Fungal
  • Epitopes