[Toxoplasma gondii pneumopathy in a patient with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome: demonstration of the parasite by bronchioloalveolar lavage].

Toxoplasmosis is an infection frequently observed in patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. Its first manifestations usually are cerebromeningal symptoms, but others may occur. A pulmonary lesion is sometimes present; it is discovered at post-mortem examination in most cases. The authors report a case of pulmonary toxoplasmosis diagnosed by bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL). Three points are emphasized: toxoplasmosis of the lung may produce an interstitial pneumonia similar to that of pneumocystosis; diagnosis can be made non-invasively by BAL, and provided an appropriate treatment is administered, the outcome may be favourable.