ABSTRACT
The complement fixation (CF), indirect immunofluorescence (IIF), and indirect hemagglutination (IHA)tests for malaria were compared by using sera from U.S. citizens with either natural infections or heroin-associated, needle-induced infections. In natural Plasmodium vivax infections, the CF, IIF, and IHA tests apparently detect malarial antibodies equally efficiently for the first 2 months after the onset of symptoms, but the titers obtained by CF and IIF rapidly decline within a year, while the IHA titers remain elevated. In the sera from heroin addicts who developed needle-induced P. vivax infections, sensitivities of all three tests were decreased: the IIF and IHA tests each detected 83%, but the CF test detected only 57.1%. False-positive reactions with this group were very high for the CF (76.6%) and IHA (15.9%) tests, but only 2% for IIF.
Subject(s)
Complement Fixation Tests , Fluorescent Antibody Technique , Hemagglutination Tests , Malaria/immunology , Antibodies/isolation & purification , Heroin Dependence/complications , Humans , Injections, Intravenous/adverse effects , Malaria/diagnosis , Malaria/transmission , Military Medicine , Plasmodium/isolation & purification , United States , VietnamSubject(s)
Malaria/complications , Splenomegaly/etiology , Adolescent , Blood Protein Disorders/epidemiology , Blood Protein Electrophoresis , Blood Specimen Collection , Bone Marrow Examination , Child , Child, Preschool , Complement Fixation Tests , Female , Fluorescent Antibody Technique , Hematocrit , Hematologic Diseases/epidemiology , Hemoglobinopathies/epidemiology , Humans , Hypergammaglobulinemia/complications , Leishmania , Malaria/diagnosis , Malaria/epidemiology , Malaria/urine , Male , Plasmodium , Plasmodium falciparum , Plasmodium malariae , Serologic Tests , Splenomegaly/epidemiology , Splenomegaly/urine , Thalassemia/epidemiology , VietnamSubject(s)
Antibodies/analysis , Immunoglobulin G/analysis , Malaria/immunology , Adolescent , Adult , Antigens , Cambodia , Complement Fixation Tests , Ethnicity , Female , Humans , Immune Sera , Immunodiffusion , Immunoglobulin D/analysis , Male , Middle Aged , Plasmodium/immunology , Plasmodium falciparum/immunology , Plasmodium malariae/immunology , United States , VietnamSubject(s)
Burkitt Lymphoma/etiology , Malaria/complications , Adolescent , Antibodies , Blood/microbiology , Burkitt Lymphoma/immunology , Burkitt Lymphoma/microbiology , Burkitt Lymphoma/physiopathology , Child , Child, Preschool , Chronic Disease , Complement Fixation Tests , Fluorescent Antibody Technique , Humans , Immunodiffusion , Immunoglobulins/analysis , Malaria/immunology , Mononuclear Phagocyte System/physiopathology , Phagocytosis , Plasmodium falciparum/immunology , Plasmodium malariae/immunology , Splenomegaly/complicationsSubject(s)
Antigens , Malaria/immunology , Plasmodium/immunology , Animals , Complement Fixation Tests , Haplorhini , Humans , In Vitro TechniquesSubject(s)
Complement System Proteins , Hemolysis/physiology , Malaria/immunology , Animals , Cricetinae , Haplorhini , PoultryABSTRACT
Soluble antigens from Histoplasma capsulatum in the mycelial and yeast phase were purified by gel filtration, fixed onto paper discs, and employed in an indirect immunofluorescence procedure to detect antibody in sera from individuals infected with H. capsulatum. The elution patterns of crude histoplasmin passed through Sephadex G-200 revealed two minor peaks of protein showing immunofluorescence, complement fixing, and precipitating-antigen activity. A large peak containing the pigment and other low molecular weight materials showed no serological activity. A polysaccharide antigen obtained from fragmented, deproteinized yeast-phase cells was reactive in the fluorescent-antibody test but showed no antigen activity in complement fixation or precipitin tests. Although certain sera from culturally proven cases of blastomycosis, coccidioidomycosis, and cryptococcosis reacted with the purified Histoplasma antigens, preliminary evaluation indicated that the immunofluorescence technique may be of value as a screening procedure for the serodiagnosis of histoplasmosis.