title: Genetic differences in Pneumocystis isolates recovered from immunocompetent infants and from adults with AIDS: Epidemiological Implications.
abstract: Polymerase chain reaction analysis, direct DNA sequencing, and histological staining were used to determine whether Pneumocystis jirovecii was present in lung tissue specimens obtained, at autopsy, from 58 infants without identifiable immunodeficiency. The results of genotyping of these specimens were compared with the results of genotyping of specimens obtained from 384 human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected adults with Pneumocystis pneumonia. P. jirovecii DNA was detected at the mitochondrial large subunit rRNA and dihydropteroate synthase loci in 100% and 53%, respectively, of the specimens obtained from infants. All specimens obtained from adults tested positive for P. jirovecii at both loci. Genotype distributions at both loci were significantly different in the 2 populations (P < .0001). The observation of different strains circulating in immunocompetent infants and HIV-infected adults suggests independent transmission cycles that warrant further study.
authors.affiliation: Division of Vector-Borne Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Fort Collins, CO 80521, USA. cbeard@cdc.gov
authors.forename: Charles B
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Beard
authors.forename: Melissa R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Fox
authors.forename: Gena G
authors.initials: GG
authors.lastname: Lawrence
authors.forename: Jeannette
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Guarner
authors.forename: Randy L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Hanzlick
authors.forename: Laurence
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: del Rio
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Rimland
authors.forename: Jeffrey S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Duchin
authors.forename: Daniel G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Colley
mesh_terms: D017088:AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D000328:Adult; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007121:Immunocompetence; D007223:Infant; D008168:Lung / Q000382:microbiology; D008297:Male; D045363:Pneumocystis carinii / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D011020:Pneumonia, Pneumocystis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology*
chemical_list: D004269:DNA, Bacterial