Evidence of anti-Hcp100 antibodies in COVID-19 critically ill patients with detectable anti-histoplasmin antibodies in a highly endemic area for histoplasmosis

TOSCANINI, MARÍA A; BARBERIS, FERNANDA; BENEDETTI, FERNANDA; RODRÍGUEZ LABOCCETTA, CAROLINA; VIDELA GARRIDO, AGUSTÍN; FERNÁNDEZ BRICEÑO, VÍCTOR; POSSE, GLADYS B; CAPECE, PAULA; NUSBLAT, ALEJANDRO D; CUESTAS, MARÍA L

MEDICAL MYCOLOGY

TAYLOR & FRANCIS LTD

Año: 2023 vol. 61

1369-3786

Patients with severe COVID-19 are at increased risk for invasive fungal infections, which are underestimated. Histoplasmosis reactivation in endemic areas should not be overlooked in this population. In a previous study, seroconversion to anti-histoplasmin antibodies by ELISA was detected in 6/39 (15.4%) patients with severe COVID-19. In this work, samples were further investigated to detect seroconversion to antibodies against the Histoplasma capsulatum 100-kDa antigen (Hcp100) by ELISA. Seroconversion to anti-Hcp100 antibodies was detected in 7/39 patients, of whom 6 also seroconverted anti-histoplasmin antibodies. These results reinforce previous findings that show histoplasmosis as an underdiagnosed fungal entity complicating COVID-19.