Candidin: comparison of two antigens for cutaneous delayed hypersensitivity testing

Authors

  • Celeste Fava-Netto Universidade de São Paulo; Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas
  • Walderez Gambale Universidade de São Paulo; Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas
  • Júlio Croce Universidade de São Paulo
  • Claudete R. Paula Universidade de São Paulo; Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas
  • Sérgio de C. Fava Universidade de Santo Amaro; Faculdade de Medicina

Keywords:

Candidin, Delayed hypersensitivity, Polysaccharide antigen

Abstract

A candidin, which is a suspension of killed yeast cells, is commonly used for intradermal tests of delayed hypersensitivity, to evaluate the immunological cellular competence of the patient, when the test is applied along with other similar tests. When working with a cellular antigen, the histopathology of positive skin tests reveals a cellular infiltrate which not only presents a characteristic hypersensitivity reaction but also a neutrophilic abscess in the central part. This research presents the results of a comparison between the yeast cell suspension and the polysaccharide antigens, both obtained from the same strains of Candida albicans. The results obtained by skin tests in one hundred individuals were 61.0% with the polysaccharide antigen and 69.0% with the yeast cell suspension antigen. Concordant results concerning the two antigens were observed in 82.0% of the individuals. The discussion section presents an assumption to explain the differences of positivity obtained with the two antigens. We conclude that the polysaccharide antigen can be utilized in the intradermal test of delayed hypersensitivity to Candida albicans.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Downloads

Published

1996-12-01

Issue

Section

Immunology

How to Cite

Fava-Netto, C., Gambale, W., Croce, J., Paula, C. R., & Fava, S. de C. (1996). Candidin: comparison of two antigens for cutaneous delayed hypersensitivity testing . Revista Do Instituto De Medicina Tropical De São Paulo, 38(6), 397-399. https://revistas.usp.br/rimtsp/article/view/29409