APPLICATION OF THE POLYMERASE CHAIN-REACTION IN THE DIAGNOSIS OF PULMONARY TOXOPLASMOSIS IN IMMUNOCOMPROMISED PATIENTS

Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid from 47 immunocompromised patients (26 with AIDS and 21 patients on immunosuppressive therapy) was analysed for the presence of Toxoplasma gondii DNA by means of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Specific target DNA derived from the B1 and P30 gene of Toxoplasm a gondii was detected in BAL fluids from three patients with AIDS (6.4 %). Pneumonia as the presenting feature of disseminated toxoplasmosis was confirmed by both clinical findings and by detection of Toxoplasma gondii DNA in blood obtained from two patients. The findings indicate that PCR has potential value in the detection of Toxoplasma gondii as an etiologic agent of atypical pneumonia in immunocompromised patients.