       Document 0027
 DOCN  M9460027
 TI    Oropharyngeal samples for detection of Pneumocystis carinii by DNA
       amplification.
 DT    9408
 AU    Wakefield AE; Miller RF; Guiver LA; Hopkin JM; Department of
       Paediatrics, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford.
 SO    Q J Med. 1993 Jun;86(6):401-6. Unique Identifier : AIDSLINE MED/94225048
 AB    Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia is a major complication of T-lymphocyte
       immune deficiency. Restriction of the disease to the alveolar spaces and
       failure to culture R. carinii has hindered simple diagnostic methods. We
       have developed a specific DNA amplification method for P. carinii and
       shown diagnostic sensitivity and specificity exceeding 95% for
       pneumocystis pneumonia when applied to bronchoscopic lavage and
       hypertonic saline induced sputum. We here report application of DNA
       amplification to simple oropharyngeal samples in 31 HIV-positive
       patients with respiratory illness. P. carinii-specific DNA was detected
       in 10 of 18 (56%) patients with pneumocystis pneumonia by ethidium
       bromide stained gels and 14 of 18 (78%) patients by the more sensitive
       technique of oligoblotting. P. carinii DNA was not detected in samples
       from 13 patients with other respiratory diagnoses. An oropharyngeal
       sample offers a simple specimen for detecting P. carinii by DNA
       amplification; refinements of technique and calibration may allow its
       development for accurate diagnostic and epidemiological work.
 DE    AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections/*DIAGNOSIS/DRUG THERAPY
       Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid/MICROBIOLOGY  *Gene Amplification  Human
       HIV Seropositivity  HIV-1  Oropharynx/*MICROBIOLOGY  Pneumocystis
       carinii/GENETICS/*ISOLATION & PURIF  Pneumonia, Pneumocystis
       carinii/*DIAGNOSIS/DRUG THERAPY  Sensitivity and Specificity  Support,
       Non-U.S. Gov't  JOURNAL ARTICLE

       SOURCE: National Library of Medicine.  NOTICE: This material may be
       protected by Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.Code).

