Development of an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for the serodiagnosis of several clinical forms of sporotrichosis

Abstract

We performed a serological study with sera from 92 patients with confirmed sporotrichosis registered between 1999 and 2004 in two hospitals in Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil. The clinical presentation of sporotrichosis was distributed as follows: lymphocutaneous, 67%; fixed cutaneous, 23%; disseminated cutaneous, 8%; and extracutaneous, 2%. Sera were assayed by ELISA against a cell wall antigen of Sporothrix schenckii, SsCBF, that we have previously described. The cross-reactivity was determined with 77 heterologous sera. The serological test showed a sensitivity of 90% and a global efficiency of 86%. A group of 55 patients with several clinical presentations of sporotrichosis was clinically and serologically followed-up for at least 6 months. We observed by ELISA data a decrease in the antibody serum titers which correlated with the progress in healing. An HIV-positive patient with meningeal sporotrichosis was serologically followed-up for over 2 years. Serum and cerebrospinal fluid specimens were examined and significant antibodies levels against the antigen SsCBF were detected. Our results strongly suggest that this serological test is valuable for the differential diagnosis and follow-up of all clinical forms of sporotrichosis.

Esporotricose na gestação: relato de cinco casos numa epidemia zoonótica no Rio de Janeiro, Brasil

“…Serological tests were also carried out according to methodology described by BernardesEngemann and col. that consists in detection of IgG antibodies against the antigen SsCBF, isolated from the S. Schenckii cell wall. 2 The highest titers were found in the patient with more extensive clinical manifestations; in the others the titers were lower. There was one false-negative titer.…”

“…They are especially useful in cases of difficult diagnosis as a screening tool, or for follow-up of uncommon cases, as serum and other organic fluids, such as synovial liquid, may be used. 2,12 High titers have been shown in cases of disseminated disease. This case report has the objective of exposing therapeutic conduct difficulties for an emerging disease in special situations and calling attention to a new risk group in this epidemic.…”

Excretion-secretion products and proteases from live Sporothrix schenckii yeast phase: immunological detection and cleavage of human IgG

“…Although in recent years we have seen noticeable advances in the specific immune diagnosis of many human deep mycoses, it has not been the case for human sporotrichosis 4,6,8,21 .…”

Síndrome oculoglandular de Parinaud causada por esporotricose

“…A técnica de ELISA (enzyme linked immuno sorbent assay) mostrou uma sensibilidade de 90% e especificidade de 86% (28) . Esta ferramenta diagnóstica pode ser usada em casos atípicos da doença, em formas generalizadas e aquelas cuja detecção micológica mostrou-se negativa.…”