title: Rapid and sensitive plate method for detection of Aspergillus fumigatus.
abstract: The routine identification of Aspergillus fumigatus in clinical samples involves, apart from direct examination, the isolation of the organism on a plate followed by its microscopic characterization. This approach lacks sensitivity, specificity, and speed. A new procedure has been developed combining microcolony formation on a nylon membrane filter at 45 degrees C with the detection of a specific 4-methylumbelliferyl-alpha-L-arabinopyranoside cleaving enzyme activity in digitonin permeabilized cells. The test takes approximately 14 h and has an efficiency of 98.2% and false-positive and -negative rates of 0 and 3.1%, respectively. When applied to 188 clinical samples taken from patients with proven or nonproven presence of Aspergillus species, a good agreement with the conventional plate-microscopy method was obtained.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Microbiology, Department of Pharmaceutical Analysis, Ghent University, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium.
authors.forename: T G
authors.initials: TG
authors.lastname: Bauters
authors.forename: H J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Nelis
mesh_terms: D001228:Aspergillosis / Q000382:microbiology; D001230:Aspergillus / Q000145:classification* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000302:isolation & purification; D001231:Aspergillus flavus / Q000145:classification / Q000302:isolation & purification; D001232:Aspergillus fumigatus / Q000145:classification* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D001233:Aspergillus nidulans / Q000145:classification / Q000302:isolation & purification; D001234:Aspergillus niger / Q000145:classification / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005188:False Negative Reactions; D005189:False Positive Reactions; D006027:Glycosides / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
chemical_list: D006027:Glycosides