Immunodiffusion (ID) Tests

P. brasiliensis is the causative agent of paracoccidioidomycosis, which is endemic in Central and South America. Paracoccidioidomycosis in AIDS patients is relatively rare. Therefore, detection of antibody is a useful diagnostic and prognostic tool.

The ID test using P. brasiliensis antigens has a sensitivity of 94% with sera from patients with paracoccidioidomycosis. The main line of precipitation in the ID test shows identity with gp43. Up to three precipitins are observed in sera of patients with paracoccidioidomycosis. A major precipitin, gp43, is closest to the antigen well and is serologically identical to the precipitin lines originally designated “E2” or “A”. The precipitin reactive with gp43 is found in 95-98% of patients with seropositive active cases of paracoccidioidomycosis. The gp43 precipitin is the most prevalent and is longer lasting than the other two major serum precipitins; the latter disappear first in patients with a favorable response to treatment. The predictive value of a positive ID result is 100% either at the time of diagnosis or at various periods during and after therapy compared with the results for healthy controls, tuberculosis patients, or those with other mycoses.

Immunodiffusion Plates

Immunodiffusion (ID)

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