Association of Aspergillus fumigatus with sugar-cane bagasse. III. Immunological studies.

In view of the epidemiological significance of Aspergillus fumigatus in allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA) and its abundance in sugar-cane bagasse the antigenic properties of 11 strains isolated from bagasse have been studied. Three strains isolated from other sources were also included in the study. For comparison sake, A. fumigatus var. ellipticus and A. viridi-mutans were also studied. All the strains of A. fumigatus irrespective of the source of isolation were found to be immunologically potent when tested against sera of a patient of ABPA and hyperimmune sera. Aspergillus viridi-nutans though belonging to A. fumigatus group gave negative results in DID, CIE and skin test. On the other hand, A. fumigatus var. ellipticus showed results comparable to A. fumigatus. The counterimmunoelectrophoresis seems to be more efficacious test than double immunodiffusion for the detection of precipitating antibodies.