[Present and future in the immunodiagnosis of the animal mycoses]

The problems that exist in the clinical, microbiological, and histopathological diagnosis of animal mycoses establish the necessity to investigate immunological methodologies in the diagnosis of these diseases. In this way, it may be possible to develop easy and fast techniques, allowing early detection of the disease, and efficient therapy. In our laboratory we have developed an indirect ELISA methodology to the diagnosis of aspergillosis in dog, cat, cow, sheep and birds, and dermatophytoses in dog and cat. Our results suggest this kind of technique may be useful not only in the diagnosis of animal mycosis, but in important fields as the elucidation of the fungal pathogenicity or the elaboration of effective vaccines, and with the possible application in human medicine.