Trichophyton rubrum specific IgE in serum in patients with chronic T. rubrum infection as demonstrated by crossed radio-immuno-electrophoresis.

By means of crossed radio-immunoelectrophoresis specific IgE antibodies to Trichophyton rubrum were demonstrated in serum from seven of eight patients with chronic T. rubrum infection. Total IgE values were within normal limits in all. In contrast, no specific IgE antibodies were found in sera from 10 patients with inflammatory ringworm lesions due to Microsporum canis, T. mentagrophytes or T. verrucosum or from six non infected controls. A long-lasting exposure to a constant antigen load is considered of importance for the development of humoral immunity including IgE production.