title: Evaluation of polymerase chain reaction for the detection of Paracoccidioides brasiliensis DNA on serum samples from patients with paracoccidioidomycosis.
abstract: The aim of this study was to demonstrate the DNA of Paracoccidioides brasiliensis in human serum samples of patients with paracoccidioidomycosis using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The diagnosis of paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM) was defined by microscopic observation of the fungus on direct exam or histopathology, culture, and serological positivity. DNA from serum of 33 patients with PCM was extracted and submitted to nested-PCR using primers from the gp 43 gene. Only one sample was positive on nested-PCR. We conclude that the prevalence of fungemia in patients with different clinical forms of PCM is low, limiting the use of serum DNA detection as an alternative diagnostic tool.
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Medicina Tropical de São Paulo, Brasil. eucharbel@usp.br
authors.forename: Cecília Eugenia
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Charbel
authors.forename: José Eduardo
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Levi
authors.forename: José Eduardo Costa
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Martins
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000946:Antigens, Fungal / Q000235:genetics*; D002648:Child; D017931:DNA Primers; D004271:DNA, Fungal / Q000032:analysis* / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005656:Fungal Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D016469:Fungemia / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010228:Paracoccidioides / Q000235:genetics*; D010229:Paracoccidioidomycosis / Q000097:blood* / Q000821:virology; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
chemical_list: C103180:43 kDa protein, Paracoccidioides; D000946:Antigens, Fungal; D017931:DNA Primers; D004271:DNA, Fungal; D005656:Fungal Proteins; D006023:Glycoproteins