Ultrastructural observation of Pneumocystis carinii in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid from non-AIDS patients with P carinii pneumonia.
To investigate the morphology of Pneumocystis carinii in vivo, we studied the ultrastructure of P carinii in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) obtained from four non-AIDS patients with P carinii pneumonia (PCP), and observed the morphologic changes after treatment in one patient. Every form recognized in the normal life cycle of P carinii, ie, thick-walled cysts, crescent-shaped cysts, and trophozoites, was detected in the pretreatment BALF specimens. In the posttreatment BALF, P carinii revealed marked ultrastructural changes such as the elongation of thick-walled cysts, the degeneration of intracystic bodies, and the disappearance of trophozoites. Massive debris derived from P carinii was still found in the BALF even after the treatment. Examination of P carinii in BALF, including ultrastructural observations, might help us to evaluate the disease status and the effect of treatment in patients with PCP.
Ishida
T
T
Department of Internal Medicine, Kurashiki Central Hospital, Okayama, Japan.
Matsui
Y
Y
Matsumura
Y
Y
Furutani
M
M
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / Q000382:microbiology*; D005260:Female; D018023:HIV Seronegativity; D006801:Humans; D016867:Immunocompromised Host; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011010:Pneumocystis / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D011020:Pneumonia, Pneumocystis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology*