Abstract
In this case report, 30 sera from a 25-year-old heroin abuser with intervertebral candidosis were tested for the presence of anti-Candida albicans antibodies by agglutination, counter-immunoelectrophoresis, and indirect immunofluorescent assay. Sera were also adsorbed with heat-killed blastospores to remove antibodies against yeast-phase cells and tested by indirect immunofluorescent assay for anti-C. albicans germ tube antibodies (CAGTAs). Humoral responses to candidal 47-kD antigen were studied by immunoblotting in 23 unadsorbed sera. Anti-C. albicans antibodies were found in high titers by the three procedures but correlated poorly with the clinical evolution of the disease. CAGTAs were present from the beginning of the infection: Titers decreased in association with antifungal treatment and the patient's improvement, eventually becoming negative. Only class IgG antibodies to the 47-kD antigen were detected. These were present during the full course of the infection, failing to disappear at the end of the study. In this case, detection of CAGTAs appeared to be an important aid to diagnosis of the bony candidal infection, as they are detected early during the illness and seemed to have a prognostic significance.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 297-302 |
| Number of pages | 6 |
| Journal | Diagnostic Microbiology and Infectious Disease |
| Volume | 13 |
| Issue number | 4 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 1990 |
Bibliographical note
Funding Information:G. Quind6s's work was supported by a grant from the Depar-tamento de Sanidad y Consumo del Gobierno Vasco-Eusko Jaurlaritza. This work was supported, in part, by grant PGV 8716 from the Departamento de Educaci6n, Universidades e Investigaci6n del Gobierno Vasco-Eusko Jaurlaritza. The authors thank Elena Gonzdlez Miranda (Facultad de BeIlas Artes, Universidad del Pals Vasco, Bilbao) and Mrs. Jean Burt (Mycological Reference Laboratory, C.P.H.L., London) for the graphic work.
