EB9, A NEW ANTIBODY FOR THE DETECTION OF TROPHOZOITES OF PNEUMOCYSTIS-CARINII IN BRONCHOALVEOLAR LAVAGE SPECIMENS IN AIDS

Aim-To prepare a monoclonal antibody (EB9) against the trophozoite for m of Pneumocystis carinii and to test its efficacy for detecting infec tion with this organism. Method-The sensitivity and specificity of the EB9 antibody were assessed by comparing it with other conventional st ains (Papanicolaou, Giemsa and Grocott) and 3F6 antibody in 33 broncho alveolar lavage specimens from HIV positive patients suspected of havi ng P carinii pneumonia. Results-P carinii infection was detected in 15 of 33 patients. In 14 cases the organism was detected by two or more of the staining methods used; however, EB9 failed to detect infection in two cases which were positive by other staining techniques. In one case P carinii infection was detected by EB9 only. Conclusion-The resu lts of this study suggest that P carinii infection in the lung may occ ur in two forms: the cyst form and the trophozoite form, which may exp lain the observed variation in response to treatment.