Pneumocystis carinii

Test code: F0004 - Ultrasensitive qualitative detection of Pneumocystis carinii by real time PCR

Pneumocystis carinii is an opportunistic airborne pathogen capable of causing life-threatening pneumonia in AIDS patients and other immunocompromised individuals. While humans can be carriers, P. carinii is also found in a wide variety of other mammalian hosts worldwide. Using molecular techniques, P. carinii DNA has been detected in air samples, asymptomatic animals, normal healthy individuals and immunocompetent patients with other diseases.

Pneumocystis carinii historically was considered a protozoan but has recently been reclassified as a fungus based on nucleic acid sequence information. The organism does not grow well in culture, making it difficult to study or detect diagnostically by that means. The organism can cause fatal pneumonia in immunodeficient animals (e.g. SCIDs and athymic nude mice), and in immunologically competent animals that are on an immunosuppressive protocol.

Published data indicate that Pneumocystis is quite ubiquitous even in commercial rodent production facilities in which high security against pathogens is maintained (Cushion, et. al., 1993). Screening of rodents in research studies can be important for obtaining reliable and interpretable results.

Because this pathogen occurs widely in the environment, many animals have been exposed to it and serology testing is therefore unable to reliably determine animals’ current carrier status. Detection of this pathogen by PCR is useful because this technique is very sensitive and specific. Results will not be compromised if the infection is at early stage or the animal is immunodeficient.

Utilities:

• Confirm the disease causing agent
• Shorten the time required to confirm a clinical diagnosis of Pneumocystis carinii
• Ensure that rodent colonies are free of P. carinii
• Early prevention of spread of P. carinii among a colony
• Minimize personnel exposure to P. carinii
• Safety monitoring of biological products that derive from rodents

References:
Cushion, M.T., Kaselis, M., Stringer, S.L. and Stringer, J.R. (1993) Genetic stability and Diversity of Pneumocystis carinii Infecting Rat Colonies. Infection and Immunity, 61: 4801-4813.

Specimen requirements: Nasal swab or 0.2 ml lung tissue.

For specimen types other than those listed here, please call to confirm specimen acceptability and shipping instructions.

For all specimen types, if there will be a delay in shipping, or during very warm weather, refrigerate specimens until shipped and ship with a cold pack unless more stringent shipping requirements are specified. Frozen specimens should be shipped so as to remain frozen in transit. See shipping instructions for more information.

Turnaround time: 2 business days

Methodology: Qualitative real time polymerase chain reaction

Normal range: Nondetected