Genetic characterization of Pneumocystis jirovecii in patients dying of AIDS, IPK, 1995-2008
Abstract
Pneumocystis jirovecii is a frequent opportunistic pathogen in HIV/AIDS. The inability to culture this species prevents from acquiring deeper knowledge about its biology, drug susceptibility as well as the epidemiology of the disease that it produces. Pneumocystosis diagnosis in Cuba is suspected, based on the clinical and radiological findings which often lead to misdiagnosis since other microorganisms produce symptoms, signs and radiological patterns similar to this infection. Currently, the status on drug resistance is unknown and there are no means to evaluate the resistance to the recommended drugs. On the other hand, no studies on the distribution of P. jirovecii of genotypes in the country have been described. The results of the present study allows: a) to describe for the first time in the literature a new genotype of mitochondrial small RNA ribosomal subunit (160A/196T), b) to suggest a narrow circulation of the pathogen in Cuba; and c) to assume a very low prevalence of sulfamide resistance linked to mutations of P. jirovecii in our country. The results obtained constitute highly valuable knowledge of pneumocystosis in Cuba, as well as worldwide since they provide new information that can be used to a better disease management.
