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Eukaryotic Cell, June 2002, p. 414-419, Vol. 1, No. 3
1535-9778/02/$04.00+0     DOI: 10.1128/EC.1.3.414-419.2002
Copyright © 2002, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Early Acquisition of Pneumocystis carinii in Neonatal Rats as Evidenced by PCR and Oral Swabs

Crystal R. Icenhour,1,2 Sandra L. Rebholz,1,2 Margaret S. Collins,1,2 and Melanie T. Cushion1,2*

Department of Infectious Disease, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio 45267-0560,1 Veterans Administration Medical Center, Medical Research Service ML 151, Cincinnati, Ohio 452202

Received 9 November 2001/ Accepted 11 March 2002

The complete life cycle of Pneumocystis carinii has not been defined, but accumulating evidence suggests that the mammalian host may acquire this organism early in life. In the present study, the initial time of P. carinii acquisition was determined in rats by amplification of P. carinii DNA in oral swabs from seven sets of pups and dams and from fetal tissue obtained by cesarean section of three gravid female rats. DNA extracted from all samples was amplified by using PCR primers directed to the P. carinii mitochondrial large subunit rRNA. Amplicons were produced from 80% (28 of 35) of pups within 2 h after birth; from 97% (34 of 35) after 24 h, and in all of the serially sampled pups by 48 h. No P. carinii amplicons were produced from 48 fetuses or their placentae taken by cesarean section. Thus, P. carinii is acquired almost immediately after birth, and placental transmission occurs rarely, if ever, in rats.

* Corresponding author. Mailing address: VAMC, 3200 Vine St., ML 151, Cincinnati, OH 45220. Phone: (513) 861-3100, ext. 4417. Fax: (513) 475-6415. E-mail: Melanie.Cushion{at}uc.edu.

Eukaryotic Cell, June 2002, p. 414-419, Vol. 1, No. 3
1535-9778/02/$04.00+0     DOI: 10.1128/EC.1.3.414-419.2002
Copyright © 2002, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.



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Copyright © 2002 by the American Society for Microbiology.