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Journal Articles Journal of Molecular Diagnostics Year : 2022

Molecular Diagnosis of Toxoplasmosis

Marie-Pierre Brenier-Pinchart
Denis Filisetti
  • Function : Author
Sophie Cassaing
Emmanuelle Varlet-Marie
  • Function : Author
Florence Robert-Gangneux
Laurence Delhaes
  • Function : Author
Hélène Yéra
  • Function : Author
Hervé Pelloux
  • Function : Author

Abstract

According to the immunodepression status, the diagnosis of Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (PjP) may be difficult. Molecular methods appear very sensitive, but they lack specificity because Pj DNA can be detected in Pneumocystis-colonized patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate the value of a serum ß-d-Glucan (BDG) assay for the diagnosis of PjP in a large cohort of HIV-negative and HIV-positive patients, either as a first-line diagnostic test for PjP or as a tool to distinguish between colonization and PjP in cases of low fungal load. Data of Pj qPCR performed on bronchopulmonary specimens over a 3-year period were retrieved retrospectively. For each result, we searched for a BDG serum assay performed within ±5 days. Among the 69 episodes that occurred in HIV-positive patients and the 609 episodes that occurred in immunocompromised HIV-negative patients, we find an equivalent sensitivity of BDG assays compared with molecular methods to diagnose probable/proven PjP, in a first-line strategy. Furthermore, BDG assay can be used confidently to distinguish between infected and colonized patients using a 80 pg/mL cut-off. Finally, it is necessary to search for causes of false positivity to increase BDG assay performance. BDG assay represents a valuable adjunctive tool to distinguish between colonization and infection.

Dates and versions

hal-03959429 , version 1 (27-01-2023)

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Marie-Pierre Brenier-Pinchart, Denis Filisetti, Sophie Cassaing, Emmanuelle Varlet-Marie, Florence Robert-Gangneux, et al.. Molecular Diagnosis of Toxoplasmosis. Journal of Molecular Diagnostics, 2022, 24 (6), pp.687-696. ⟨10.1016/j.jmoldx.2022.03.009⟩. ⟨hal-03959429⟩
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