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Detection ofToxoplasma gondii in AIDS patients by the polymerase chain reaction

Nachweis von Toxoplasma gondii unter Anwendung der Polymerasekettenreaktion bei AIDS-Kranken

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Summary

In recent years, toxoplasmosis has become one of the most frequent and life-threatening opportunistic infections in AIDS patients. Despite strict clinical follow-up and repeated biological examinations, its diagnosis remains difficult to establish in the context of immunodeficiency because of the poor predictive value of serology. The aim of the study was to compare standard methods of diagnosis with the polymerase chain reaction (PCR), in an attempt to investigate the potential usefulness of PCR in the diagnosis of toxoplasmosis. Twelve biological samples (cerebrospinal fluid, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, one brain biopsy and one liver biopsy) from 11 unselected AIDS patients were tested by PCR. The results showed good correlation (for eight out of 11 patients) between classical methods and PCR, and confirm the value of bronchoalveolar lavage for the diagnosis of toxoplasmosis in AIDS patients. The pathophysiological significance of the presence ofToxoplasma in samples tested is discussed.

Zusammenfassung

Bei AIDS-Kranken stellt die Toxoplasmose eine der häufigsten lebensbedrohlichen Infektionen dar. Wegen des geringen prädiktiven Wertes der Serologie ist die Diagnose im Zustand der Abwehrschwäche trotz konsequenter klinischer Kontrollen und wiederholter Laboruntersuchungen schwierig. Die vorliegende Studie wurde durchgeführt, um die Methoden der konventionellen Diagnostik mit der Polymerasekettenreaktion (PCR) zu vergleichen und den Nutzen der PCR in der Toxoplasmose-Diagnostik zu beurteilen. Die PCR wurde bei 11 unausgewählten AIDS-Kranken eingesetzt; für die Untersuchungen standen 12 Proben (Liquor cerebrospinalis, bronchoalveoläre Lavage-Flüssigkeit, eine Hirnbiopsie und eine Leberbiopsie) zur Verfügung. Die Ergebnisse zeigten bei acht der 11 Patienten eine gute Korrelation zwischen den klassischen Nachweismethoden und der PCR. Sie bestätigen den Wert der Bronchoalveolar-Lavage für den Nachweis der Toxoplasmose bei AIDS-Kranken. Die pathophysiologische Bedeutung der Toxoplasma-Organismen in den Proben wird diskutiert.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Département de Parasitologie — Mycologie Médicale et Moléculaire, URA CNRS 1344, Faculté de Médecine, Université Joseph Fourier, Grenoble I, Domaine de la Merci, F-38700, La Tronche, France

    Nadine Cristina Ph.D., H. Pelloux M.D., C. Goulhot & P. Ambroise-Thomas M.D., Ph.D.

  2. Service des Maladies Infectieuses, Hôpital Albert Michallon, BP 217 X, F-38043, Grenoble, France

    J. P. Brion M.D. & Pascale Leclercq M.D.

Authors
  1. Nadine Cristina Ph.D.
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  2. H. Pelloux M.D.
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  3. C. Goulhot
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  4. P. Ambroise-Thomas M.D., Ph.D.
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  5. J. P. Brion M.D.
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  6. Pascale Leclercq M.D.
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Cristina, N., Pelloux, H., Goulhot, C. et al. Detection ofToxoplasma gondii in AIDS patients by the polymerase chain reaction. Infection 21, 150–153 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01710533

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01710533

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