COUNTERIMMUNOELECTROPHORESIS IN DETECTION OF ANTIBODIES AGAINST COCCIDIOIDES-IMMITIS

Counterimmunoelectrophoresis is increasingly used in the diagnosis of microbial diseases. Its possible use in the rapid detection of antibodies against C. immitis was studied in 112 specimens from 50 patients. The patients studied were 34 with an active coccidioidomycosis infection, 5 with a positive coccidioidin skin test, 5 with a negative coccidioidin skin test and 6 with other fungal infections. Counterimmunoelectrophoresis was positive in 93 of 96 active coccidioidomycosis specimens and negative in the other groups. The results obtained by counterimmunoelectrophoresis correlated well with complement fixation and double immunodiffusion and indicate that it is an excellent tool for the diagnosis of patients with coccidioidomycosis.