SPECIFICITY OF THE IMMUNOHISTOCHEMICAL DEMONSTRATION OF MYCOBACTERIALANTIGENS

The specificity of immunohistological reactions of commercial polyclon al antibodies to antigens of various mycobacteria (Mycobacterium bovis , Mycobacterium duvalii and Mycobacterium paratuberculosis) was tested in connection with a number of pathogens and with the help of the ind irect immunoperoxidase technique. Positive reactions occurred a with v arious mycobacterial antigens and some Gram-positive bacteria and fung i. These investigations indicate that when the above antibodies are us ed in histopathological diagnostics, false-positive results can be exp ected.