title: [Pneumocystis: epidemiology and molecular approaches].
abstract: Pneumocystosis is a common opportunistic infection in immunocompromised patients, especially in AIDS patients. The diagnosis of this pneumonia has presented several difficulties due to the low sensitivity of conventional staining methods and the absence of culture system for Pneumocystis. The molecular biology techniques, especially the PCR, have improved the detection of DNA of this fungus in invasive and noninvasive samples, and in the environment which highlighted human transmission and the existence of environmental source of Pneumocystis. In addition, various molecular biology techniques were used for typing of Pneumocystis strains, especially P. jirovecii, which is characterized by a significant genetic biodiversity. Finally, the widespread use of cotrimoxazole for the treatment and prophylaxis of pneumocystosis has raised questions about possible resistance to sulfa drugs in P. jirovecii.
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire de biologie moléculaire parasitaire et fongique, faculté de médecine, université de Sfax, rue de Magida Boulila, 3029 Sfax, Tunisie. Electronic address: mohamedalijarboui@gmail.com.
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Jarboui
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Mseddi
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sellami
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sellami
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Makni
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ayadi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004197:Disease Reservoirs; D004198:Disease Susceptibility; D058507:Host Specificity / Q000276:immunology; D054884:Host-Pathogen Interactions; D006801:Humans; D016867:Immunocompromised Host; D009894:Opportunistic Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics; D011010:Pneumocystis / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D011020:Pneumonia, Pneumocystis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology
keywords: Diagnosis; Diagnostic; Host specificity; Identification; Molecular typing; PCR; Pneumocystis jirovecii; Spécificité d’hôte; Transmission; Typage moléculaire