[Infection caused by Paracoccidioides brasiliensis in people living in Cocle and Veraguas, Republic of Panamá].

Intradermal application of yeast phase paracoccidioidin antigen obtained by sonication and lysis from the fungus to 111 residents of Veraguas province (68 men and 43 women) and 130 Cocle province residents (57 men and 73 women) elicited a positive reaction in 9.01% (1/111) and 26.15% (34/30) of the Veraguas and Cocle residents respectively. Positive reactions ranged between papules of 5 and 27 mm in diameter, the majority being between 11 and 20 mm. Infection was more frequent in men (1:1.47 for Veraguas and 1:1.28 for Coclé) and in those involved in farming. A prevalence of 21.95% P. brasiliensis infection is demonstrated for the Republic of Panama.