Detection of Pneumocystis carinii in oropharyngeal washings by PCR-SHELA and nested PCR

J Eukaryot Microbiol. 1997 Nov-Dec;44(6):48S. doi: 10.1111/j.1550-7408.1997.tb05769.x.

Abstract

Oropharyngeal washings (Ophs) from 27 HIV infected patients (18 with P. carinii pneumonia, PCP, and 9 without PCP) were examined for P. carinii using morphological staining and DNA amplification with PCR-SHELA and nested PCR methods. The comparison of these techniques shows that 1. the amplification of P. carinii DNA is more sensitive than (and as specific as) morphological staining; 2. PCR-SHELA is less sensitive than (and as specific as) nested PCR.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / diagnosis*
  • AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / microbiology
  • Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect
  • Humans
  • Molecular Probe Techniques
  • Nasal Lavage Fluid / microbiology
  • Oropharynx / microbiology*
  • Pneumocystis / isolation & purification*
  • Pneumonia, Pneumocystis / diagnosis*
  • Pneumonia, Pneumocystis / microbiology
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction / methods*
  • Sensitivity and Specificity