Abstract
Blastomycosis and histoplasmosis manifest as lung and systemic fungal infections in mammals caused by Histoplasma capsulatum, and Blastomyces dermatitidis. These infections exhibit cross reactivity of antibodies which makes a correct diagnosis potentially elusive. The purpose of this study was to gain an understanding of which isoelectric focusing fractions (RotoforTM) of B. dermatitidis were reactive or cross reactive with serum specimens from dogs infected with B. dermatitidis, H. capsulatum, and Cryptococcus neoformans. Three serum specimens from dogs that were infected with B. dermatitidis, two dogs infected with H. capsulatum, and one dog infected with C. neoformans were assayed against the 20 B. dermatitidis RotoforTM fractions. Reactivity was determined using the indirect enzyme linked immunoassay (ELISA). Reactivity with B. dermatitidis was found predominantly in the protein fractions 1 - 6, and cross reactivity with H. capsulatum, and C. neoformans sera was found within the B. dermatitidis protein fractions 15 - 19.
Highlights
Blastomycosis is a systemic fungal infection of humans and animals that is initiated by the inhalation of conidia
The purpose of this study was to gain an understanding of which isoelectric focusing fractions (RotoforTM) of B. dermatitidis were reactive or cross reactive with serum specimens from dogs infected with B. dermatitidis H. capsulatum, and Cryptococcus neoformans
Three serum specimens from dogs that were infected with B. dermatitidis, two dogs infected with H. capsulatum, and one dog infected with C. neoformans were assayed against the 20 B. dermatitidis RotoforTM fractions
Summary
Blastomycosis is a systemic fungal infection of humans and animals that is initiated by the inhalation of conidia (spores produced by the filamentous phase of the fungus). The organism exists in this stage in nature or in the laboratory at 25 ̊C and has the ability to convert to the yeast phase at 37 ̊C in the lungs of the infected host. Blastomycosis, as well as other systemic mycoses, are termed “emerging fungal threats” since they can infect persons with normal immune systems, and they are a cause for concern in individuals with AIDS or other deficiency diseases that compromise the immune system [3,4,6]. Recent studies have indicated that blastomycosis may be present in other regions with sporadic cases being reported in Colorado, Texas, Kansas and Nebraska [1,2,5]
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