title: Pulmonary toxoplasmosis in immunocompromised patients with interstitial pneumonia: a single-centre prospective study assessing PCR-based diagnosis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Pulmonary toxoplasmosis has become a very rare parasitic infection since the advent of highly active antiretroviral therapies. It is generally diagnosed by the direct microscopic observation of Toxoplasma gondii tachyzoites in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF). The aim of this study was to assess possible improvements in diagnostic performance associated with the use of real-time PCR.
  
  
  METHODS
  This prospective study was carried out on BALFs obtained from immunocompromised patients over a 2-year period. We systematically compared the results of conventional staining with those of molecular detection.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Two cases of pulmonary toxoplasmosis were diagnosed for a total of 336 samples. PCR did not detect any additional cases and was more time-consuming than conventional staining.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Conventional staining is a reliable technique and is probably the most appropriate method for experienced microbiology laboratories, whereas T. gondii-specific PCR may be useful for laboratories with less experience in parasitology.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  2015_030, May 27th 2015.
authors.affiliation: Service de Parasitologie-Mycologie-Médecine tropicale, CHU de Tours, Tours, France Faculté de Médecine, Université François-Rabelais, CEPR-INSERM U1100/Équipe 3, Université François-Rabelais Tours, France.
authors.forename: Guillaume
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Desoubeaux
authors.affiliation: Service de Parasitologie-Mycologie-Médecine tropicale, CHU de Tours, Tours, France.
authors.forename: Églantine
authors.initials: É
authors.lastname: Cabanne
authors.affiliation: Service de Parasitologie-Mycologie-Médecine tropicale, CHU de Tours, Tours, France.
authors.forename: Claire
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Franck-Martel
authors.affiliation: Service de Parasitologie-Mycologie-Médecine tropicale, CHU de Tours, Tours, France.
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gombert
authors.affiliation: Service d'Hématologie et Thérapie Cellulaire, CHU de Tours, Tours, France Faculté de Médecine, Université François-Rabelais, N2C-INSERM U1069, Université François-Rabelais Tours, France.
authors.forename: Emmanuel
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gyan
authors.affiliation: Service d'Hématologie et Thérapie Cellulaire, CHU de Tours, Tours, France.
authors.forename: Séverine
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lissandre
authors.affiliation: Service d'Hématologie et Thérapie Cellulaire, CHU de Tours, Tours, France.
authors.forename: Marc
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Renaud
authors.affiliation: Service d'Hématologie et Thérapie Cellulaire, CHU de Tours, Tours, France.
authors.forename: Hélène
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Monjanel
authors.affiliation: Service d'Hématologie et Thérapie Cellulaire, CHU de Tours, Tours, France.
authors.forename: Caroline
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Dartigeas
authors.affiliation: Service de Parasitologie-Mycologie-Médecine tropicale, CHU de Tours, Tours, France.
authors.forename: Éric
authors.initials: É
authors.lastname: Bailly
authors.affiliation: Service de Parasitologie-Mycologie-Médecine tropicale, CHU de Tours, Tours, France.
authors.forename: Nathalie
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Van Langendonck
authors.affiliation: Service de Parasitologie-Mycologie-Médecine tropicale, CHU de Tours, Tours, France Faculté de Médecine, Université François-Rabelais, CEPR-INSERM U1100/Équipe 3, Université François-Rabelais Tours, France.
authors.forename: Jacques
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chandenier
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / Q000469:parasitology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016867:Immunocompromised Host; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000469:parasitology / Q000473:pathology; D017563:Lung Diseases, Interstitial / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D014122:Toxoplasma / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D014123:Toxoplasmosis / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000469:parasitology / Q000473:pathology
keywords: DIAGNOSIS; LUNG; PCR; SEROLOGY; TOXOPLASMA