Pneumocystis jiroveci Genotypes and Primary Infection

• Published in: Clinical infectious diseases Vol. 36; no. 10; pp. 1340 - 1342
• Main Authors: Anne, Totet, Respaldiza, Nieves, Pautard, Jean-Claude, Raccurt, Christian, Nevez, Gilles
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Chicago, IL The University of Chicago Press 15.05.2003; University of Chicago Press
• Subjects: Adult; Ascomycota - classification; Ascomycota - genetics; Biological and medical sciences; Brief Reports; DNA, Fungal - analysis; Fungi; Genotype; Genotypes; Human mycoses; Human respiratory syncytial virus; Humans; Immunocompetence; Immunocompromised Host; Infant; Infants; Infections; Infectious diseases; Medical sciences; Miscellaneous mycoses; Mycoses; Pneumocystis; Pneumocystis carinii; Pneumocystis infections; Pneumocystis jiroveci; Pneumonia, Pneumocystis - genetics; Pneumonia, Pneumocystis - microbiology; University hospitals; Fungi; Human; Microbiological investigation; Newborn; Typing; Primary infection; Genotype; Identification; Nasopharynx; Pneumocystis; Fungi Imperfecti; Thallophyta
• ISSN: 1058-4838; 1537-6591
• DOI: 10.1086/374844

This study describes the molecular typing of Pneumocystis jiroveci organisms from 5 nonpremature immunocompetent infants who developed a primary infection. Four P. jiroveci internal transcribed spacer (ITS) types were identified. All have been previously described in reports concerning immunosuppressed adults with pneumocystosis. Present data suggest that identical types can be implicated either in first contact or in additional contacts between fungus and host and that both immunocompetent infants and immunocompromised patients may be part of a common human reservoir for the fungus.