Immunocompetent infants as a human reservoir for Pneumocystis jirovecii: rapid screening by non-invasive sampling and real-time PCR at the mitochondrial large subunit rRNA gene

J Eukaryot Microbiol. 2003:50 Suppl:668-9. doi: 10.1111/j.1550-7408.2003.tb00678.x.

Abstract

We tested a real-time PCR assay targeting the Pneumocystis jirovecii mitochondrial large subunit rRNA gene on 240 archival nasopharyngeal aspirates from non-immunosuppressed infants. The sensitivity of this assay appeared close to that of a conventional nested-PCR assay targeting the same locus. Because of its one-step procedure, and its sensitivity and rapidity, the real-time PCR assay is particularly suitable for screening individuals parasitized by P. jirovecii within large populations.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Base Sequence
  • Bronchiolitis / immunology
  • Bronchiolitis / microbiology
  • DNA Primers
  • DNA, Fungal / genetics
  • DNA, Fungal / isolation & purification
  • DNA, Mitochondrial / genetics*
  • DNA, Mitochondrial / isolation & purification
  • Disease Reservoirs
  • Gene Amplification
  • Genes, Reporter
  • Humans
  • Immunocompetence / immunology*
  • Infant
  • Pneumocystis carinii / genetics*
  • Pneumocystis carinii / immunology*
  • Pneumonia, Pneumocystis / immunology*
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction / methods
  • RNA, Fungal / genetics
  • RNA, Ribosomal / genetics*

Substances

  • DNA Primers
  • DNA, Fungal
  • DNA, Mitochondrial
  • RNA, Fungal
  • RNA, Ribosomal