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Pneumocystis carinii
Published in Peter D. Walzer, Robert M. Genta, Parasitic Infections in the Compromised Host, 2020
Peter D. Walzer, C. Kurtis Kim, Melanie T. Cushion
Immunological techniques are of potential value in the diagnosis of pneumocystosis. As mentioned previously, the organism has been identified both by immunofluorescence and immunoperoxidase staining in lungs and respiratory tract secretions (118,179,182); however, the lack of commercially available reagents has limited this approach. Serum antibody detection systems have had considerable application in infants with interstitial plasma cell pneumonia but have been of little value in the diagnosis of pneumocystosis in the compromised host (123,124,154,157,174,185,201). The high prevalence of serum antibodies in the normal population has been a major contributory factor to this problem; while a rise in serum antibody titers has occurred in some P. carinii patients over time, serology has usually not been able to distinguish active disease from prior exposure to the organism. Serum antigen detection methods have used counter-immunoelectrophoresis (CIE) and, to a lesser extent, latex agglutination. Initial experience with CIE was promising (124), and attempts were made to apply the test to the diagnosis of pneumocystosis in a variety of clinical and experimental settings (121,397-403). However, because of problems of sensitivity, specificity, and reproducibility, the consensus of most investigators is that the test is unreliable as a diagnostic tool (168,185,201,260,404-407).
Humoral Immune Responses
Published in Roberto R. Kretschmer, Amebiasis: Infection and Disease by Entamoeba histolytica, 2020
R. Pérez-Montfort, R. R. Kretschmer
Izar,22 Scalas,23 and Wagener24 were the first to detect circulating anti-amebic antibodies by complement fixation and precipitin tests in the first part of this century. The introduction of other techniques followed decades later. Goldman25 introduced indirect immunofluorescence (IFA), Nakamura and Baker26 precipitation in agar, Zaman27 immobilization, Kessel and collaborators28,29 IHA, Halpern and collaborators30 antigen coated bentonite phagocytosis, Powell and collaborators31 gel diffusion and Morris and collaborators32 latex agglutination. With the successful axenic cultivation of E. histolytica33,34 and the preparation of antigens from axenic amebas35 more sensitive and specific techniques were developed. Sepúlveda and collaborators36 introduced counterimmunoelectrophoresis (CIE), Bos and van den Eijk,37 enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), Voller and collaborators,38 radioimmunoassay, Nilsson and collaborators,39 a thin layer immunoassay, and Taylor and Pérez,40 a solid phase indirect immunofluorescent assay. The sensitivity of these tests is very good17,41 and there are apparently no false-positive results. There is no crossreactivity with Naegleria or Hartmanella nor with other parasites causing intestinal or liver disease.42
Approach to the Febrile Patient
Published in Benedict Isaac, Serge Kernbaum, Michael Burke, Unexplained Fever, 2019
Currently there are methods of rapid diagnosis of infections which permit the physician to establish a diagnosis definitively or presumptively, in sufficiently short a period to influence patient management.23,24 Among these tests, the most useful, widespread and least expensive is ELISA (enzyme linked immunosorbent assay) which may detect a wide variety of infectious agents. Other tests for a rapid diagnosis are counterimmunoelectrophoresis (C.I.E.); latex agglutination, immunofluorescence; radioimmunoassay and electron microscopy. All these above-mentioned tests should be used in conjunction with standard microbiologic techniques.
Therapeutic targets for the treatment of microsporidiosis in humans
Published in Expert Opinion on Therapeutic Targets, 2018
Serological techniques that have been reported for the detection of immune responses, both IgG and IgM, to microsporidiosis include: immunoblotting, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), indirect immunofluorescence test (IFAT), counter-immunoelectrophoresis, and carbon immunoassay [91–97]. IFAT and ELISA are the most widely used tests and they correlate well with each other [98]. A limitation of serology is that it is difficult to distinguish when the infection has occurred as antibodies persist in the host for a long time following infection [99,100]. To this end, the utility of serology is not as good as molecular diagnostic methods [80]. However, serology can be used for epidemiology to examine infection prevalence and will identify that an animal has been infected [101,102]. Serological screening is used in laboratory research to eliminate potentially infected animals, particularly rabbits with Enc. cuniculi infection, to avoid infection related confounding effects on experimental results [103].
Advances in understanding and managing Scedosporium respiratory infections in patients with cystic fibrosis
Published in Expert Review of Respiratory Medicine, 2020
Jean-Philippe Bouchara, Yohann Le Govic, Samar Kabbara, Bernard Cimon, Rachid Zouhair, Monzer Hamze, Nicolas Papon, Gilles Nevez
If a chronic subcutaneous or bone and joint infection, as well as a lung fungus ball in patients with tuberculous cavitations, may be easily diagnosed by culture and histological examination of appropriate clinical specimens, together with the detection of serum specific IgG by counter-immunoelectrophoresis (CIE), the detection of an airway colonization by Scedosporium species still remains challenging, as well as the differentiation between a chronic colonization of the airways and a respiratory infection or an allergic broncho-pulmonary mycosis (ABPM).
Prognostic value of cryoglobulins, protein electrophoresis, and serum immunoglobulins for lymphoma development in patients with Sjögren’s syndrome. A retrospective cohort study
Published in Acta Clinica Belgica, 2018
Jesse Kimman, Xavier Bossuyt, Daniel Blockmans
Antinuclear antibodies were detected by indirect immunofluorescence using HEp2000 cells. Anti-SSA and anti-SSB antibodies were identified by counterimmunoelectrophoresis until 2003 and by fluoroenzyme immunoassay (EliA, Thermo Fisher) after 2003.