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.
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.
Totet
Anne
A
Department of Parasitology, Mycology and Travel Medicine, University Hospital, University of Picardy, 80054 Amiens, France, EU. annetotet@yahoo.fr
Meliani
Leila
L
Lacube
Philippe
P
Pautard
Jean Claude
JC
Raccurt
Christian
C
Roux
Patricia
P
Nevez
Gilles
G
D001483:Base Sequence; D001988:Bronchiolitis / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology; D017931:DNA Primers; D004271:DNA, Fungal / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004197:Disease Reservoirs; D005784:Gene Amplification; D017930:Genes, Reporter; D006801:Humans; D007121:Immunocompetence / Q000276:immunology*; D007223:Infant; D045363:Pneumocystis carinii / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology*; D011020:Pneumonia, Pneumocystis / Q000276:immunology*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D012331:RNA, Fungal / Q000235:genetics; D012335:RNA, Ribosomal / Q000235:genetics*
D017931:DNA Primers; D004271:DNA, Fungal; D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial; D012331:RNA, Fungal; D012335:RNA, Ribosomal