DETECTION OF ANTIBODIES TO ASPERGILLUS-FUMIGATUS IN SERUM OF HORSES WITH MYCOSIS OF THE AUDITORY TUBE DIVERTICULUM (GUTTURAL POUCH)

Objective-To detect antibodies against Aspergillus fumigatus antigens in serum samples from horses and to evaluate the relevance of this met hod as an alternative approach to the diagnosis of mycosis of the audi tory tube diverticulum (guttural pouch mycosis [GPM]). Animals-Twelve clinically normal horses (controls) and 12 horses with GPM diagnosed b y endoscopic observation of characteristic mycotic plaques. Procedure- Antibodies to A fumigatus antigens were detected in serum by use of an ELISA and immunoblot analysis with extracellular antigens. Results-An tibodies against A fumigatus antigens were found in healthy and diseas ed horses, Titer of total Aspergillus antibodies was not diagnostic fo r GPM. In contrast, immunoblot analysis results indicated that 2 antig ens of 22 and 26 kd were constantly recognized by sera from diseased h orses. Conclusions-Reactivity to 22- and 26-kd A fumigatus antigens, a s measured by immunoblot analysis, seemed to be diagnostic for GPM in horses.