Search

Background: Pneumocystis constitutes a highly diversified biological group, with numerous species, which are strongly host-specific and well adapted to live inside the lungs of a diverse range of mammals. The detection of DNA from Pneumocystis in clinical specimens by PCR assays is leading to important advances in pneumonia caused by Pneumocystis and its epidemiology. The aim of this study was to analyze two different diagnostic methods, real-time PCR (qPCR) using primers based in the Major Surface Glycoprotein (MSG) of Pneumocystis sp. and conventional nested PCR using primers designed to the small subunit of mitochondrial rRNA (mtSSU rRNA) for detection of Pneumocystis DNA in lung tissue from bats. Materials, Methods & Results: Bats (195 samples) were captured (2007-2009) in caves, forests, and urban areas, were obtained from the Program of Rabies Control of two states in Brazil: Mato Grosso and Rio Grande do Sul, located respectively in the Mid-Western and Southern regions of the country approximately 2000 km apart. Lung tissue (250 mg) was finely minced, homogenized with crushing and DNA extraction was carried out with commercial kit. DNA samples the lung tissue of bats were analyzed by nested PCR, using oligonucleotide primers designed for the gene encoding the mitochondrial small subunit r RNA (mtSSU rRNA) and Taqman probe and primers for qPCR were selected based on the Major Surface Glycoprotein (MSG) of Pneumocystis sp. Chi-square (P < 0.001 was considered significant) and the McNemar's test was used to analyze nested PCR and qPCR as methods of detection of Pneumocystis sp. and the Kappa was calculated by Win Episcope 2.0. To assess the sensitivity and specificity of the qPCR assay, a nested PCR assay was considered as the reference method. The positivity was 36.4% in the nested PCR and 24.1% using the qPCR. Concordance was obtained in 68.2% of the samples (133/195). It was demonstrated that there was no statistically significant difference between the techniques used and, both tests proved to be specific for the detection of Pneumocystis species. Specificity was 71% for the nested PCR and 84.6% for the qPCR. Pneumocystis was detected (71/195) by the nested PCR assay in 14 species:. Tadarida brasiliensis, Histiotus velatus, Desmodus rotundus, Molossus molossus, Glossophaga soricina, Nyctinomops laticaudatus, Promops nasutus, Artibeus sp., Eptesocus furinalus, Lasurus blossevillii, Molossus currentium, Molossus rufus, Myotis levis and Nyctinomops macrotis. Discussion: This study detected the DNA from Pneumocystis through the nested PCR and qPCR assays, and the frequency found is comparable to that obtained in a previous study, which used the nested PCR in Central American, South American and European countries. Pneumocystis sp. was observed in a high number of different bat species (14) in two Brazilian States (RS and MT). The qPCR showed a higher specificity in comparison to the nested PCR. The literature has similar findings to the results obtained by this research, employing the same tests and genes. The nested PCR and qPCR assays are indicated in the diagnosis of Pneumocystis sp. in bats and it is important to highlight that a better diagnostic precision is achieved with the association of both tests. Additionally, this study was the first to detect Pneumocystis sp. in the lungs of bats using qPCR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista Iberoamericana de Micologia is the property of Elsevier B.V. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)