Abstract

Demonstration of Mycobacterium tuberculosis bacillus in an intracranial tuberculoma by  bacteriological culture and staining methods are difficult. Hence the objective of this study is to describe an immunoassay to detect the presence of cord factor antigen of M.tuberculosis in intracranial tuberculoma. Cord factor antigen of M. tuberculosis in the surgical specimens of intracranial tuberculoma was isolated by a chloroform – methanol precipitation method and its concentration was quantitated by a direct enzyme-linked-immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Cord factor antigen of M. tuberculosis was present in the intracranial tuberculous lesions and absent in intracranial fungal granulomas. Demonstration of cord factor antigen of M. tuberculosis as described in this study is unique and may be able to distinguish tuberculous from fungal etiology in patients with intra- cranial granulomatous lesions. Thus it has a potential application in the laboratory diagnosis of intracranial tuberculoma.

Key words: Intracranial tuberculoma, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, cord factor antigen, specificity, enzyme linked immunosorbent assay.