Histoplasmosis other diagnostic studies: Difference between revisions

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===Antigen Testing===
===Antigen Testing===
*Antigen testing is an useful method for rapid diagnosis of histoplasma infection. Galactomannan antigen can be detected in the blood or urine samples and is positive in majority of patients with acute pulmonary histoplasmosis and disseminated histoplasmosis.
*Antigen testing is an useful method for rapid diagnosis of histoplasma infection. Galactomannan antigen can be detected in the blood or urine samples and is positive in majority of patients with acute pulmonary histoplasmosis and disseminated histoplasmosis.
===Antibody Testing===
*'''Antibody tests:''' Because development of antibodies to Histoplasma can take two to six weeks, antibody tests are not as useful as antigen detection tests in diagnosing acute histoplasmosis or in immunosuppressed persons, who may not mount a strong immune response.
**'''Immunodiffusion (ID):''' Tests for the presence of H (indicates chronic or severe acute infection) and M (develops within weeks of acute infection and can persist for months to years after the infection has resolved) precipitin bands; ~80% sensitivity.
**'''Complement Fixation (CF):''' Complement-fixing antibodies may take up to 6 weeks to appear after infection. CF is more sensitive but less specific than immunodiffusion.


==Gallery==
==Gallery==

Revision as of 20:50, 3 May 2017

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Other Diagnostic Studies

Microscopy

  • The gold standard for diagnosis of histoplama infection is direct visualization of the oviod yeast cells in the tissue samples and body fluid specimen.
  • Histoplasma capsulatum is characterized by a budding yeast connected with a narrow base and is mostly identified within the macrophages and monocytes.
  • In immunocompetent people, immune response by the macrophages results in the formation of a granuloma and the yeast forms are demonstrated within the histiocytes in the granuloma. However in patients with disseminated infection the yeast forms can be demonstrated in the histiocytes scattered throughout the organ and are not confined to the granulomas alone.
  • Different stains such as the gram stain, Giemsa stain, Hematoxylin-eosin stain, Mucicarmine stain, PAS stain and Wright-Giemsa stain are useful for demonstration of the granulomas and the yeast forms in the tissue specimen or body fluid samples.

Culture

  • Culture is positive 50% to 85% patients with disseminated histoplasmosis and chronic pulmonary histoplasmosis.
  • Culture takes 4 weeks to grow and the mold appears as a suede-like or cottony mycelium. Microscopic examination of the mold demonstrate characteristic large, rounded tuberculate macroconidia.

Antigen Testing

  • Antigen testing is an useful method for rapid diagnosis of histoplasma infection. Galactomannan antigen can be detected in the blood or urine samples and is positive in majority of patients with acute pulmonary histoplasmosis and disseminated histoplasmosis.

Antibody Testing

  • Antibody tests: Because development of antibodies to Histoplasma can take two to six weeks, antibody tests are not as useful as antigen detection tests in diagnosing acute histoplasmosis or in immunosuppressed persons, who may not mount a strong immune response.
    • Immunodiffusion (ID): Tests for the presence of H (indicates chronic or severe acute infection) and M (develops within weeks of acute infection and can persist for months to years after the infection has resolved) precipitin bands; ~80% sensitivity.
    • Complement Fixation (CF): Complement-fixing antibodies may take up to 6 weeks to appear after infection. CF is more sensitive but less specific than immunodiffusion.

Gallery

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 "Public Health Image Library (PHIL)".