Abstract: Objective To establish histopathological methods which can identify opportunistic fungi in tissues. Methods PAS stain and immunostaining on the specimens from infected mice and clinical specimens were employed. Polyclonal anti-Candida albicans, polyclonal anti-Crpytococcus neoformans and monoclonal anti-Aspergillus antibodies were used in immunostaining. Results Candida albicans, Crpytococcus neoformans and Aspergillus spp in infected tissues could be specifically identified by immunostaining. No statistically significant differences of sensitivity between immunostaining and PAS stain were found. Conclusion Immunostaining is a reliable method to identify fungi in infected tissues, it might be used in the diagnosis of deep mycosis.

Key words: Candida, Cryptococcus, Aspergillus, Immunohistochemistry