Evaluation of polymerase chain reaction for the detection of Paracoccidioides brasiliensis DNA on serum samples from patients with paracoccidioidomycosis

• Main Authors: Cecília Eugenia Charbel, José Eduardo Levi, José Eduardo Costa Martins
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Ministério da Saúde 2006-03-01
• Series: Memórias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz.
• Subjects: paracoccidioidomycosis; Paracoccidioides brasiliensis; molecular diagnosis; serum; polymerase chain reaction
• Online Access: http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0074-02762006000200015

The aim of this study was to demonstrate the DNA of Paracoccidioides brasiliensis in human serum samples of patients with paracoccidioidomycosis using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The diagnosis of paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM) was defined by microscopic observation of the fungus on direct exam or histopathology, culture, and serological positivity. DNA from serum of 33 patients with PCM was extracted and submitted to nested-PCR using primers from the gp 43 gene. Only one sample was positive on nested-PCR. We conclude that the prevalence of fungemia in patients with different clinical forms of PCM is low, limiting the use of serum DNA detection as an alternative diagnostic tool.