Abstract
We studied the extent to which wild nine-banded armadillos, Dasypus novemcinctus, produce immune humoral responses specifically directed against characteristic Paracoccidioides brasiliensis antigens. Such antibody production might reflect direct contact with the ecological microniche of P. brasiliensis, or might merely reflect inhalation of widely distributed airborne propagules. An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was designed containing purified glycoprotein gp43 and gp70 antigens from P. brasiliensis as well as cross-reactive antisera originally targeted against human IgM (μ chain) and armadillo anti-IgG (γ-chain). It was used to detect and classify IgM and IgG antibodies to P. brasiliensis in the armadillo. In a serological survey of 47 wild armadillos, IgM antibodies to gp43 were detected in seven animals (14.8%), and IgG antibodies were detected in 20 (42.5%). IgM antibodies to gp70 were detected in 10 (21.3%) animals and IgG antibodies were detected in 18 (38.3%). These results, showing a pattern consistent with infection, suggest that P. brasiliensis is enzootic in armadillos. How the animals became exposed could not be determined.