Studies of serological diagnosis for invasive candidiasis

Abstract

Serological diagnosis was examined for deep mycotic infections, especially candidiasis. Candida antigen and antibody researches were made by means of CAND-TEC (RAMCO Co., Ltd) and passive hemagglutination test (PHA) (Roche Co., Ltd), respectively, and simultaneous determinations were made of D-arabinitol, a fungal metabolite and (1----3)-beta-D-glucan, fungal parietal component. 1) For normal subjects, 1 of 173 cases (0.6%), 5 of 200 cases (2.5%) and 7 of 157 cases (4.5%) showed greater than or equal to 1:4, greater than or equal to 320 x and greater than or equal to 11 mumol/l for CAND-TEC, Candida antibody and D-arabinitol, respectively, and values above these were judged positive. 2) Of the 171 patients with pyrexia refractory to general antibiotic agents, who were treated at our Department and related institutions from November 1988 to March 1990, 41 with obvious Candida infections were CAND-TEC, Candida antibody, D-arabinitol and (1----3)-beta-D-glucan positive in 33 (80.5%), 21 (51.2%), 29 (70.7%) and 13 cases (56.6%), respectively. At least one item-positive patient was as high as 97.4%. On the other hand, in the group having no Candida infection at all, 1 of 57 cases on CAND-TEC (1.7%) and 10 of 55 cases on Candida antibody (18.2%) were positive, indicating significant differences from the surely Candida-infectious group. 3) Comparative examination of CAND-TEC and other testing methods revealed a correlation of CAND-TEC with D-arabinitol in cases showing 1:4 and 1:8 less than or equal to, but not other significant difference.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)