Improved version of the exoantigen test for identification of Coccidioides immitis and Histoplasma capsulatum cultures.

A rapid and simple method for extracting specific cell-free antigens of Coccidioides immitis and Histoplasma capsulatum from agar slant cultures was developed. The extracts were analyzed in immunodiffusion tests for the presence of C. immitis or H. capsulatum specific antigens. These extracts were compared with culture filtrates of brain heart infusion broth subcultures in tests with 32 isolates of C. immitis and H. capsulatum and 13 other fungi which might be morphologically confused with them. The studies showed that the slant extracts were as useful as the culture filtrates and allowed more rapid identification of C. immitis and H. capsulatum. In every case, when an identification was made by conventional morphological methods, the immunological test yielded correlating results. The immunological tests were positive for two isolates that were converted to their yeast forms only after 4 months of study by conventional tests. The new procedure permits the identification of C. immitis and H. capsulatum 2 days after receipt of a pure mycelial-form culture. The test is recommended for the presumptive identification of C. immitis and H. capsulatum cultures.