Pneumocystis carinii and Pneumocystis wakefieldiae in wild Rattus norvegicus trapped in Thailand

J Eukaryot Microbiol. 2010 Mar-Apr;57(2):213-7. doi: 10.1111/j.1550-7408.2009.00465.x. Epub 2010 Jan 22.

Abstract

This work reports for the first time the presence of two Pneumocystis species in wild Rattus norvegicus specimens from Thailand. Pneumocystis DNA was detected in 57.7% (15/26) wild rats without apparent association with typical pneumocystosis. Pneumocystis carinii was found alone in five rats (19.2%), Pneumocystis wakefieldiae was detected alone in six rats (23.1%), and two rats were infected by both species (7.7%). In addition, a new P. wakefieldiae variant sequence has been identified in three wild R. norvegicus specimens caught in the same geographical area. The high frequency of Pneumocystis in wild rats documented in this study and the apparent scarcity of severe pneumocystosis were consistent with an efficient circulation of rat Pneumocystis species in ecosystems.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • DNA, Fungal / chemistry
  • DNA, Fungal / genetics
  • DNA, Fungal / isolation & purification
  • DNA, Ribosomal / chemistry
  • DNA, Ribosomal / genetics
  • Pneumocystis / classification*
  • Pneumocystis / isolation & purification*
  • Pneumocystis Infections / epidemiology
  • Pneumocystis Infections / microbiology
  • Pneumocystis Infections / veterinary*
  • Prevalence
  • Rats
  • Rodent Diseases / epidemiology*
  • Rodent Diseases / microbiology*
  • Sequence Analysis, DNA
  • Thailand / epidemiology

Substances

  • DNA, Fungal
  • DNA, Ribosomal