title: Detection of Pneumocystis in the nasal swabs of immune-suppressed rats by use of PCR and microscopy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Detection of Pneumocystis jiroveci colonization in lungs or oral samples due to high sensitivity of PCR methods results in undue treatment of patients without any symptoms of Pneumocystis pneumonia. The aim of the present study is to demonstrate Pneumocystis carinii in rats, immune suppressed by oral and subcutaneous administration of dexamethasone.
  
  
  METHODS
  Blood, oral, nasal and eye swabs were collected prior to immune suppression and 2, 6, 12 weeks after administration of dexamethasone. Also, samples were collected from lung, heart, liver, kidney, diaphragm, brain, spleen, tongue, muscle, eye, intestine, and feces. Cysts and trophozoites were investigated in stained slides and MSG gene was detected by PCR.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results showed that weight loss is significantly higher in rats administered oral dexamethasone (P<0.05). Microscopy was positive only in lungs of rats orally administered dexamethasone. PCR was positive in lungs and oral swabs of rats prior to the administration of dexamethasone. After the administration of dexamethasone, the MSG gene was detected in oral swabs, lungs, spleen, kidney and (for the first time) in nasal swabs. PCR was positive in nasal swabs during the second and sixth weeks of oral and subcutaneous administration of dexamethasone, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Presence of P. jiroveci in nasopharyngeal aspirate, oropharyngeal wash, oral swab, induced sputum or BAL, and absence in nasal swab in a patient without symptoms of PCP may support clinician's decision regarding colonization. Overall, detection of P. carinii in nasal swabs of rats by PCR demonstrated that nasal sampling can be used for the diagnosis of Pneumocystis pneumonia.
authors: Ege University Medical School, Department of Parasitology, Bornova/Izmir, Turkey.
authors: Hüseyin
authors: H
authors: Can
authors: Ayşe
authors: A
authors: Caner
authors: Mert
authors: M
authors: Döşkaya
authors: Aysu
authors: A
authors: Değirmenci
authors: Sabire
authors: S
authors: Karaçalı
authors: Ceylan
authors: C
authors: Polat
authors: Yüksel
authors: Y
authors: Gürüz
authors: Ahmet
authors: A
authors: Uner
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005800:Genes, Fungal / Q000235:genetics; D007165:Immunosuppression Therapy; D008297:Male; D008853:Microscopy / Q000379:methods*; D009666:Nose / Q000382:microbiology*; D045363:Pneumocystis carinii / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D011020:Pneumonia, Pneumocystis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*; D051381:Rats
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