title: Cerebral aspergillosis diagnosed by detection of Aspergillus flavus-specific DNA, galactomannan and (1-->3)-beta-D-glucan in clinical specimens.
abstract: A case of cerebral aspergillosis was diagnosed by the detection of Aspergillus flavus-specific DNA in brain biopsy and serum specimens. The diagnosis was also supported by detection of elevated levels of galactomannan and (1-->3)-beta-d-glucan in serum specimens. Despite the presence of dichotomously branched septate hyphae in brain biopsy, the culture remained negative. The inability to isolate the organism in culture suggested that combined therapy of AmBisome and caspofungin was fungicidal for the fungus in the brain abscess.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Kuwait University, Safat 13110, Kuwait.
authors.forename: Zia U
authors.initials: ZU
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Kuwait University, Safat 13110, Kuwait.
authors.forename: Suhail
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ahmad
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Kuwait University, Safat 13110, Kuwait.
authors.forename: Eiman
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mokaddas
authors.affiliation: Hamed Al-Essa Organ Transplant Center, Kuwait.
authors.forename: Tarek
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Said
authors.affiliation: Hamed Al-Essa Organ Transplant Center, Kuwait.
authors.forename: M P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Nair
authors.affiliation: Hamed Al-Essa Organ Transplant Center, Kuwait.
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Halim
authors.affiliation: Hamed Al-Essa Organ Transplant Center, Kuwait.
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Nampoory
authors.affiliation: University of Texas Medical Branch, Department of Pathology, 301 University Boulevard, Galveston, Texas 77555-0609, USA.
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: McGinnis
mesh_terms: D000666:Amphotericin B / Q000494:pharmacology; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D001228:Aspergillosis / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology; D001231:Aspergillus flavus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D001927:Brain Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology; D000077336:Caspofungin; D004271:DNA, Fungal / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D054714:Echinocandins; D004587:Electrophoresis, Agar Gel; D005690:Galactose / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D006801:Humans; D055666:Lipopeptides; D008297:Male; D008351:Mannans / Q000097:blood*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010456:Peptides, Cyclic / Q000494:pharmacology; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D047071:beta-Glucans / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D000935:Antifungal Agents; D004271:DNA, Fungal; D054714:Echinocandins; D055666:Lipopeptides; D008351:Mannans; D010456:Peptides, Cyclic; D047071:beta-Glucans; C068538:liposomal amphotericin B; C012990:galactomannan; D000666:Amphotericin B; C033363:beta-1,3-glucan; D000077336:Caspofungin; D005690:Galactose