Abstract
An immunodiffusion (ID) test has been developed to diagnose infections caused byPenicillium marneffei. A 20 X concentrated culture-filtrate of six-week-old shake cultures (25 C) ofP. marneffei was employed as an antigen. This preparation was found to be better in quality than that from still cultures of the same age (30 C). Anti-P. marneffei rabbit sera were produced by injecting rabbits with increasing dosages of the inoculum for at least six weeks. These sera demonstrated two to three precipitin lines following their reaction with their antigens for 24–48 h at 25 C. TheP. marneffei antigenic preparations did not react with rabbit antisera to five species ofAspergillus, which commonly cause aspergillosis, or to antisera for four dimorphic systemic fungi. Similarly, the antigens of these other fungi did not react against the anti-P. marneffei rabbit serum. However, the anti-P. marneffei rabbit sera demonstrated antibody titres (1∶32 to 1∶64) to histoplasmin, blastomycin and coccidioidin in the complement fixation test. Cross-reactions were not observed with any of the human sera in the suspected or proven cases of opportunistic or systemic mycotic infections. Therefore, the ID test for penicillosis marneffei is considered to be highly specific. Exoantigen studies demonstrated that, of a total of 34 isolates of ten species ofPenicillium tested, only the extracts ofP. marneffei (6 isolates) and one isolate (PLM 771) of aP. species reacted positively with the anti-P. marneffei rabbit serum, giving at least two lines of identity with reference reagents. Based on this analysis, theP. species (PLM 771) was identified as P. marneffei. The exoantigen test is considered to be a specific and rapid method for the identification and confirmation ofP. marneffei isolates.
Zusammenfassung
Eine Immun-Verbreitung (ID) Test war ausgearbeitet fur die Diagnose der Infektionen diePenicillium marneffei verursachen. Die 20 X conzentrierte Kultur-Fieltrier von der sechs Wochen alten schuttelten Kulturen (25 C) vonP. Marneffei war gebraucht fur Antigen. Diese Preparation war besser in Qualitat denn die stillen Kulturen von dem selben Alter (30 C). Die Anti-P. Marneffei Kaninchen Sera wurde produziert durch die Injektion der Kaninchen mit immer vergrosserden Dosen von dem Imfstoff-mindestebs wahrend sechs Wochen. Diese Sera zeigte zwei — drei Ubere sturzung Linien durch die Reaktion von ihrer Antigenen wahrend 24–48 Stunden im 25 C. Die Antigen-Preparationen vonP. Marneffei gaben keine Reaktionen mit Kaninchen Anti-sera fur funf Species vonAspergillus, die stellen an gewohnlich Aspergillosis, oder zu der Antisera fur fier dimorpische systemische Pilze. Gleichweis, die Antigenen von diese Plize gaben keine Reaktionen gegen die Kaninchen Antisera vonP. Marneffei. Jedoch die Kaninchen Antiserum vonP. marneffei zeigte Anti-Korper Titer (1∶32 bis 1∶64) zu Histoplasmin, Blastomycin und Coccidioidin in der Complement (Erganzung) Fixing Test. Kreuz-Reaktionen wurden nicht observiert mit keine menschlichen Sera in verdachtigen oder erwiesenen Krankengeschichten von passenden oder systematischen mycotischen Infectionen. Deswegen die ID Test fur Penicillosis marneffei ist sehr spezifisch. Die Untersuchungen haben demonstriert, dass 34 isolationen von zehn Species vonPenicillium — die untersucht waren — nur der Auszug vonP. Marneffei (6 Isolationen) und ein Isolation (PLM 771) vonP. Species eine positive Reaktion mit der Kaninchen Anti-Serum vonP. Marneffei, und es gab mindestens zwei identische Linen mit die Referenz Reagenten. An diese Analyse grunden wir dass, dieP. Species (PLM 771) war identifiziert wieP. Marneffei. Die Exo-Antigen Test ist anbetrachtet wie eine spezifische und schnelle Methode fur die Identifikation und Bestatigung der Isolierten vonP. Marneffei.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
References
Blumer, S. O., Kaufman, L., Kaplan, W., McLaughlin, D. W. & Kraft, D. E., 1973. Comparative evaluation of five serological methods for the diagnosis of sporotrichosis. Applied Microbiology 26: 4–8.
Capponi, M., Sureau, P. & Segretain, G., 1956. Penicillose de Rhizomyssinesis. Bulletin de la Societe de Pathologie Exotique et de ses Filiales 49: 418–421.
DiSalvo, A. F., Fickling, A. M. & Ajello, L., 1973. Infection caused by Penicillium marneffei: Description of first natural infection in man. American Journal of Clinical Pathology 59: 259–263.
DiSalvo, A. F., Sekhon, A. S., Land, G. A. & Fleming, W. H., 1980. Evaluation of the exoantigen test for identification of Histoplasma species and Coccidioides immitis cultures. Journal of Clinical Microbiology 11: 238–241.
Gilliam, J. S. & Vest, S. A., 1951. Penicillium infection of the urinary tract. Journal of Urology 65: 484–489.
Huang, S.-N. & Harris, L. S., 1963. Acute disseminated penicillosis. American Journal of Clinical Pathology 39: 167–174.
Huppert, M., Sun, S. H. & Rice, E. H., 1978. Specificity of exoantigen for identification of Coccidioides immitis. Journal of Clinical Microbiology 8: 42–45.
Kaufman, L., 1980. Serodiagnosis of fungal diseases, p. 553–572. In: Manual of Clinical Immunology, American Society for Microbiology, Washington, D.C.
Kaufman, L., Huppert, M., Netto, C. F., Pollak, L. & Restrepo, A., 1972. Manual of standardized serodiagnostic procedures for systemic mycoses. Part I: Agar immunodiffusion tests. Scientific Publication, RD 11/9, p. 14. Pan American Health Organization, Washington, D.C.
Kaufman, L. & Standard, P. G., 1978. Improved version of the exoantigen test for identification of Coccidioides immitis and Histoplasma capsulatum. Journal of Clinical Microbiology 8: 42–45.
Kaufman, L. & Standard, P. G., 1978. Immuno-identification of cultures of pathogenic fungi to man. Current Microbiology 1: 135–140.
Kurup, V. P., Barboriak, J. J., Fink, J. N. & Scribner, G., 1976. Immunologic cross-reactions among thermophilic actinomycetes associated with hypersensitivity pneumonitis. Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology 57: 417–421.
Lieber, G. A., Magovern, G. J., Sadighi, P., Park, S. B. & Cushing, W. J., 1977. Penicillium granuloma of the lung presenting as a solitary pulmonary nodule. Journal of American Medical Association 237: 671.
McGinnis, M. R., 1980. Laboratory handbook of medical mycology, p. 661. Academic Press, New York, London, Toronto, Sydney & San Francisco.
Palmer, D., Kaufman, L., Kaplan, W. & Cavallaro, J. J., 1977. Serodiagnosis of mycotic diseases, p. 191. American Lecture Series. Charles C. Thomas Publisher, Springfield, Illinois.
Rippon, J. W., 1974. Medical mycology. The pathogenic fungi and the pathogenic actinomycetes. p. 587. W. B. Saunders, Philadelphia, London, Toronto.
Segretain, G., 1959. Penicillium marneffei N. Sp., Agent d'une mycose du systeme reticulo-endothelial. Mycopathologia Mycologia et Applicata 11: 327–353.
Sekhon, A. S. & Carmichael, J. W., 1972. Pyrolysis-gasliquid chromatography of some dermatophytes. Canadian Journal of Microbiology 18: 1593–1601.
Sekhon, A. S., Bogorus, M. S. & Sims, H. V., 1979. Blastomycosis: Report of three cases from Alberta with a review of Canadian cases. Mycopathologia 68: 53–63.
Sekhon, A. S., Jackson, F. L. & Jacobs, H. J., 1981. Blastomycosis: Report of the first case from Alberta, Canada. Mycopathologia (in press).
Standard, P. G. & Kaufman, L., 1977. Immunological procedure for the rapid identification of members of the genus Histoplasma. Journal of Clinical Microbiology 3: 191–199.
Standard, P. G. & Kaufman, L., 1978. Immunological procedure for the rapid and specific identification of Coccidioides immitis cultures. Journal of Clinical Microbiology 5: 149–153.
Upshaw, C. B., 1974. Penicillium endocarditis of aortic valve prosthesis. Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery 68: 428–431.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Portion of a thesis submitted by the second author to the Canadian Society of Laboratory Technologists, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, in partial fulfilment of the requirements for Advanced registered Technologist, Certification in Immunology.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Sekhon, A.S., Li, J.S.K. & Garg, A.K. Penicillosis marneffei: Serological and exoantigen studies. Mycopathologia 77, 51–57 (1982). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00588658
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00588658