P. carinii DNA Detected by ITSs Nested PCR in Serum and PBMC of AIDS Patients with PCP

SUMMARY Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP) is usually diagnosed by examination of BAL, a sample often unpleasant to be collected from immunocompromised host affected by acute respiratory disease. We studied by the Internal Transcribed Spacers (ITSs) nested PCR the presence of P. carinii DNA in serum and Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells (PBMC) during acute episodes of PCP to test blood as a possible noninvasive diagnostic tool.