CLASS-SPECIFIC ANTIBODY IN HUMAN DERMATOPHYTOSIS REACTIVE WITH TRICHOPHYTON-RUBRUM DERIVED ANTIGEN

Dermatophyte infections induce a humoral immune response and an enzyme linked immunosorbent assay was used to detect specific antibody class es against antigen derived from Trichophyton rubrum. Sera from 19 acut e patients, 18 chronic patients, and 27 normal controls were evaluated . Mean IgG titers against dermatophyte antigen were significantly high er in ail patients than in controls. Mean IgM levels were significantl y higher in acute patients than in controls. No significant difference was detected in IgE titers between the patients and controls. These r esults do not reveal whether the humoral immune response has a role in the progression of the infection.