We use cookies to understand how you use our site and to improve your experience. This includes personalizing content and advertising. To learn more, click here. By continuing to use our site, you accept our use of cookies. Cookie Policy.

Features Partner Sites Information LinkXpress
Sign In
Advertise with Us
INTEGRA BIOSCIENCES AG

Download Mobile App




Symptomatic Respiratory Pathogen Found in Transplant Recipients

By LabMedica International staff writers
Posted on 13 Feb 2019
Print article
Image: Microsporidian spores stained Calcofluor White M2R (Photo courtesy of Institute Pasteur of Tunis).
Image: Microsporidian spores stained Calcofluor White M2R (Photo courtesy of Institute Pasteur of Tunis).
As opportunistic pathogens, microsporidia cause symptomatic infections mainly in patients with impaired immune function; and microsporidial dissemination to the central nervous system, eyes, and respiratory and urinary tracts has been documented in these patients.

Iatrogenically immunosuppressed patients, especially transplant recipients, are the group at highest risk of such opportunistic infections, and their dissemination is due to life-long immunosuppressive treatment. Nevertheless, routine differential diagnosis of these pathogens is not performed and little is known about the prevalence of microsporidia in this group of patients.

Infectious disease scientists from the Wroclaw Medical University (Wroclaw, Poland) obtained sputum samples and bronchial washings (BW) from 72 renal transplant recipients and 105 patients with various respiratory diseases were screened for Encephalitozoon spp. and Enterocytozoon bieneusi by microscopic examination and genus-specific nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) followed by genotyping.

The standard Calcofluor M2R staining method was used to detect microsporidial spores. Sputum and BW samples were homogenized by bead disruption with a Precellys24 Instrument, followed by digestion with proteinase K at 56 °C for 1 hour. A genus-specific nested PCR protocol was used to amplify the partial sequence of the 16S rRNA gene, the entire ITS (internal transcribed spacer) region, and a partial sequence of the 5.8S rRNA gene of E. bieneusi and Encephalitozoon spp. PCR products were sequenced in both directions using the Sanger sequencing method. Amplification and sequencing of each sample was repeated twice.

The investigators reported that a total of 8.3% (6/72) of immunosuppressed renal transplant recipients and 1.9% (2/105) of patients with various respiratory diseases, both immunocompetent and immunosuppressed, were positive for respiratory microsporidial infection. All six transplant recipients were Encephalitozoon cuniculi-positive by PCR/sequencing and five of them suffered from respiratory symptoms. The presence of microsporidial spores was also confirmed microscopically in three of the transplant recipients. Of the two immunocompetent patients with various respiratory diseases, one had an E. cuniculi infection, while the second had an E. bieneusi infection.

The authors concluded that the higher prevalence of E. cuniculi observed among patients after kidney transplantation testifies to the fact that life-long immunosuppression increases the risk of respiratory microsporidial infection in these patients. It is necessary to constantly monitor them, since symptoms of respiratory microsporidiosis are generally undistinguishable from those caused by more common infective agents. Moreover, when infection is untreated, it may lead to acute respiratory failure, which is life threatening for the patient. The study was published in the February 2019 issue of the International Journal of Infectious Diseases.

Related Links:
Wroclaw Medical University

Platinum Member
COVID-19 Rapid Test
OSOM COVID-19 Antigen Rapid Test
Specimen Collection & Transport
Complement 3 (C3) Test
GPP-100 C3 Kit
New
Gold Member
Systemic Autoimmune Testing Assay
BioPlex 2200 ANA Screen with MDSS

Print article

Channels

Clinical Chemistry

view channel
Image: Reaching speeds up to 6,000 RPM, this centrifuge forms the basis for a new type of inexpensive, POC biomedical test (Photo courtesy of Duke University)

POC Biomedical Test Spins Water Droplet Using Sound Waves for Cancer Detection

Exosomes, tiny cellular bioparticles carrying a specific set of proteins, lipids, and genetic materials, play a crucial role in cell communication and hold promise for non-invasive diagnostics.... Read more

Hematology

view channel
Image: The Gazelle Hb Variant Test (Photo courtesy of Hemex Health)

First Affordable and Rapid Test for Beta Thalassemia Demonstrates 99% Diagnostic Accuracy

Hemoglobin disorders rank as some of the most prevalent monogenic diseases globally. Among various hemoglobin disorders, beta thalassemia, a hereditary blood disorder, affects about 1.5% of the world's... Read more

Microbiology

view channel
Image: The new platform is designed to perform blood-based diagnoses of nontuberculosis mycobacteria (Photo courtesy of 123RF)

New Blood Test Cuts Diagnosis Time for Nontuberculous Mycobacteria Infections from Months to Hours

Breathing in nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) is a common experience for many people. These bacteria are present in water systems, soil, and dust all over the world and usually don't cause any problems.... Read more

Industry

view channel
Image: These new assays are being developed for use on the recently introduced DxI 9000 Immunoassay Analyzer (Photo courtesy of Beckman Coulter)

Beckman Coulter and Fujirebio Expand Partnership on Neurodegenerative Disease Diagnostics

Beckman Coulter Diagnostics (Brea, CA, USA) and Fujirebio Diagnostics (Tokyo, Japan) have expanded their partnership focused on the development, manufacturing and clinical adoption of neurodegenerative... Read more
Copyright © 2000-2024 Globetech Media. All rights reserved.