title: First data on Pneumocystis jirovecii colonization in patients with respiratory diseases in North Lebanon.
abstract: Pneumocystis colonization may play a role in transmission and local inflammatory response. It was explored in patients with respiratory diseases in North Lebanon. Overall prevalence reached only 5.2% (95% CI 2.13-10.47) but it was higher (17.3%) in the subpopulation of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). COPD was the only factor associated with a significantly increased risk of colonization. mtLSU genotyping revealed predominance of genotype 2, identified in five patients (71.4%), including one patient who had co-infection with genotype 3. These first data in North Lebanon confirm Pneumocystis circulation among patients with respiratory diseases and the potential for transmission to immunocompromised patients.
authors.affiliation: Biology and Diversity of Emerging Eukaryotic Pathogens (BDPEE), Pasteur Institute of Lille, Centre for Infection and Immunity of Lille, University of Lille, Lille, France ; Health and Environment Microbiology Laboratory, AZM Centre for Research in Biotechnology and its Application, Doctoral School of Sciences and Technology, Lebanese University, Tripoli, Lebanon.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Khalife
authors.affiliation: Biology and Diversity of Emerging Eukaryotic Pathogens (BDPEE), Pasteur Institute of Lille, Centre for Infection and Immunity of Lille, University of Lille, Lille, France.
authors.forename: E M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Aliouat
authors.affiliation: Biology and Diversity of Emerging Eukaryotic Pathogens (BDPEE), Pasteur Institute of Lille, Centre for Infection and Immunity of Lille, University of Lille, Lille, France.
authors.forename: C M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Aliouat-Denis
authors.affiliation: Biology and Diversity of Emerging Eukaryotic Pathogens (BDPEE), Pasteur Institute of Lille, Centre for Infection and Immunity of Lille, University of Lille, Lille, France.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Gantois
authors.affiliation: Department of Research, Lille University Hospital, Lille, France.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Devos
authors.affiliation: Health and Environment Microbiology Laboratory, AZM Centre for Research in Biotechnology and its Application, Doctoral School of Sciences and Technology, Lebanese University, Tripoli, Lebanon.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Mallat
authors.affiliation: Biology and Diversity of Emerging Eukaryotic Pathogens (BDPEE), Pasteur Institute of Lille, Centre for Infection and Immunity of Lille, University of Lille, Lille, France ; Parasitology-Mycology Laboratory of Lille University Hospital Centre & Faculty of Medicine of Lille, University of Lille, Lille, France.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Dei-Cas
authors.affiliation: Health and Environment Microbiology Laboratory, AZM Centre for Research in Biotechnology and its Application, Doctoral School of Sciences and Technology, Lebanese University, Tripoli, Lebanon.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Dabboussi
authors.affiliation: Health and Environment Microbiology Laboratory, AZM Centre for Research in Biotechnology and its Application, Doctoral School of Sciences and Technology, Lebanese University, Tripoli, Lebanon.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hamze
authors.affiliation: Biology and Diversity of Emerging Eukaryotic Pathogens (BDPEE), Pasteur Institute of Lille, Centre for Infection and Immunity of Lille, University of Lille, Lille, France ; Parasitology-Mycology Laboratory of Lille University Hospital Centre & Faculty of Medicine of Lille, University of Lille, Lille, France.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Fréalle
keywords: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; Lebanon; Pneumocystis colonization; mtLSU genotype; respiratory diseases