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Pneumocystis carinii is a
cause of diffuse pneumonia in
immunocompromised hosts.
Even in fatal cases, the
organism and the disease
remain localized to the lung.
The pneumonia rarely, if ever,
occurs in healthy individuals.
Geographic Distribution
Worldwide
Most children exposed by the
age of 3-4 years
Commonly found in the lungs
of healthy individuals, but no
disease occurs
Widespread in mammals
Hosts...
Humans
Pneumocystis jiroveci(i) alternate names
Pneumocystis carinii hominis
Elderly, malnourished children, primary
immunodeficiency disorders, AIDS
Patients receiving cytotoxic or
immunosupressive drugs for
lymphoresticular cancers or transplants
Life cycle is not fully known
Asexual and sexual reproduction (CDC)
Four general morphological forms in mammals
Trophozoite (has amoeboid trophozoite form)
Life Cycle
Aerosol droplets
Direct contact
Congenital infection
Household pets
Reactivation of latent infection
when immunocompromised
A cell-mediated immune
response is the major defense
mechanism.
Other mammals: rabbits, dogs,
goats, swine, cats,
chimpanzees, owl monkeys,
horses
Clinical symptoms
Sputum or bronchial lavage
Special staining with toluidine blue,
methenamine silver
Gram-Weigert stain for cysts
ELISA, immunofluorescence assay, DNA
amplification being developed
Sample pictures
Trophozoites in
BAL material.
Cysts in BAL
material
Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMPSMZ)
Pentamidine isethionate inhalant
Treatments can be toxic and patient must
be monitored closely
Prophylactic treatment if CD4 count is low
(<200)
HAART regimen to boost immune system
function, corticosteroids