Guillaume Desoubeaux1, Églantine Cabanne2, Claire Franck-Martel2, Martin Gombert2, Emmanuel Gyan3, Séverine Lissandre4, Marc Renaud4, Hélène Monjanel4, Caroline Dartigeas4, Éric Bailly2, Nathalie Van Langendonck2, Jacques Chandenier1. 1. 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. 2. Service de Parasitologie-Mycologie-Médecine tropicale, CHU de Tours, Tours, France. 3. 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. 4. Service d'Hématologie et Thérapie Cellulaire, CHU de Tours, Tours, France.
Abstract
AIMS: 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. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: 2015_030, May 27th 2015. Published by the BMJ Publishing Group Limited. For permission to use (where not already granted under a licence) please go to http://www.bmj.com/company/products-services/rights-and-licensing/
AIMS: 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. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: 2015_030, May 27th 2015. Published by the BMJ Publishing Group Limited. For permission to use (where not already granted under a licence) please go to http://www.bmj.com/company/products-services/rights-and-licensing/
Authors: Asmaa M El-Kady; Wafa Abdullah I Al-Megrin; Iman A M Abdel-Rahman; Eman Sayed; Eman Abdullah Alshehri; Majed H Wakid; Fadi M Baakdah; Khalil Mohamed; Hayam Elshazly; Hussah M Alobaid; Safa H Qahl; Hatem A Elshabrawy; Salwa S Younis Journal: Pathogens Date: 2022-07-15