Recombinant antigens as diagnostic markers for aspergillosis.

Eight recombinant proteins and purified galactomannan of Aspergillus fumigatus were tested by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay to quantify the anti-Aspergillus antibodies in sera of patients with aspergilloma, allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA), and invasive aspergillosis (IA). In spite of the variability observed in the immune responses of individual patients, quantification of the antibody titers against the 18-kDa ribonuclease (RNU), the 360-kDa catalase (CAT), and the 88-kDa dipeptidylpeptidase V (DPPV) was useful for the diagnosis of aspergilloma and ABPA. Differential diagnosis of ABPA was even possible among cystic fibrosis as well as noncystic fibrosis patients. In the group of immunocompromised patients with IA, no antibody response was mounted in response to the Aspergillus infection in any of the patients. Interestingly, about half of the patients with proven IA came to the hospital with high titers of anti-Aspergillus antibodies, suggesting that they were infected upon entry to the hospital. These results suggest that recombinant RNU, CAT, and DPPV have a great potential in the serodiagnosis of all forms of aspergillosis in the immunocompromised and immunocompetent patient.

Survey of dermatophyte infections in the Lausanne area Switzerland.

BACKGROUND: The dermatophytes are important in the Swiss medical environment since 5-10% of consultations in dermatology concern mycotic infections. OBJECTIVE: To obtain information about the prevailing species of dermatophytes in the south-west of Switzerland and their pattern of infection. METHODS: An analysis was made of the dermatophytes isolated in the Department of Dermatology at the University Hospital of Lausanne and from samples collected in private practices of Switzerland during an 8-year period (1993-2000). The total number of samples sent for mycological analysis was 33,725. RESULTS: 4,193 cultures revealed a dermatophyte. Trichophyton rubrum was the most frequently isolated species accounting for 62.5% of the strains followed by T. mentagrophytes (24.5%) and Microsporum canis (5.0%). Less frequent isolates included Epidermophyton floccosum, M. langeroni, M. gypseum, T. soudanense, T. violaceum, T. verrucosum, T. gourvili and T. tonsurans. Analysis of the localisation of the isolated fungi confirms that the dermatophyte species have a predilection for certain body areas. CONCLUSIONS: The relative frequencies of isolation of the dermatophyte species partially depending of the record of the different tinea vary from one country to another. Our study reveals the importance of T. rubrum and the appreciable frequency of M. canis in the Swiss autochthonous population and the apparition of new species with immigrants.