Neurocryptococcosis: diagnosis by PCR method Neurocriptococose: diagnóstico por PCR

• Published in: Revista do Instituto de Medicina Tropical de São Paulo
• Main Authors: Regina Célia Paschoal, Mário Hiroyuki Hirata, Rosário Crespo Hirata, Márcia de Souza Carvalho Melhem, Amanda Latercia Tranches Dias, Claudete Rodrigues Paula
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Universidade de São Paulo (USP) 2004
• Subjects: Cryptococcus neoformans; PCR; Diagnostic methods; AIDS; Cryptococcosis; Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine; RC955-962; Infectious and parasitic diseases; RC109-216; Alta; Arctic
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1590/S0036-46652004000400006; https://doaj.org/article/eb7384377c5b49298327d0e19a47f27e

Cryptococcus neoformans detection was optimized using PCR technique with the objective of application in the clinical laboratory diagnosis. The amplification area was ITS and 5,6S which encodes the ribosomal RNA (rRNA). A total of 72 cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples were used, obtained from cases with and without AIDS. The patients had cryptococcal meningitis (n = 56) and meningitis caused by other agents (n = 16). The results demonstrated that PCR test had the highest sensitivity rates, superior to culture (85.7%) and to India ink test (76.8%). PCR was found to be sensitive in detecting 1 cell/mL and highly specific since it did not amplify other fungal DNA. The comparative analysis of the methods showed that PCR is more sensitive and specific and is applicable as an important laboratorial resource for neurocryptococcosis diagnosis. A detecção de Cryptococcus neoformans em líquor foi otimizada pela técnica de PCR. A amplificação foi realizada nas áreas ITS e 5,6S do RNA ribossomal (rRNA). Foram estudados 72 líquors obtidos de casos de pacientes com e sem AIDS. Os pacientes eram portadores de meningite criptocócica (n = 56) e meningite ocasionada por outros agentes (n = 16). Os resultados demonstraram que a técnica tem alta sensibilidade, superior a cultura (85,7%) e ao teste da tinta da china (76,8%). A técnica de PCR pode detectar 1 célula/mL de líquor e é altamente específica. A análise comparativa dos três métodos, tinta da china, cultura e PCR, demonstrou que o último é muito mais sensível e específico, podendo ser aplicável como importante recurso laboratorial no diagnóstico da neurocriptococose.