Evaluation of a New Histoplasma spp. Quantitative RT-PCR Assay

Alanio, Alexandre; Gits-Muselli, Maud; Lanternier, Fanny; Sturny-Leclère, Aude; Benazra, Marion; Hamane, Samia; Rodrigues, Anderson Messias; García-Hermoso, Dea; Lortholary, Olivier; Dromer, Françoise; Bretagne, Stéphane; Woimant, M.; Blanchard, G.; Silhadi, Souad; Vignier, Nicolas; Pitsch, A.; Jidar, Kaoutar; Traversier, Nicolas; Poisson, D. M.; Lecointre, Claire; Foulet, F.; Botterel, Françoise; N, Ammar; Amsellem,; Gabriel, Frédéric; Poirier, Philipe; Cornu, Marjorie; Loridant, Séverine; Morio, Florent; Boutoille, David; Jeddi, Fakhri; Hasseine, Lilia; Ouissa, Rachida; Toubas, D.; Bailly, Éric; Désoubeaux, Guillaume; Ronez, Emily; Foulon, G.; Lefrançois, Sebastien; Bonnal, Christine; Paugam, A.; Dougados, Maxime; Desroches, Marine; Barazzutti, H.; Paleiron, Nicolas; Rabodonirina, Méja; Catherinot, Émilie; Cardot-Martin, Emilie; Hiesse, Chrisian; Salvator, Hélène; Aguilar, Claire; Gigandon, Anne; Montpreville, Thomas de; Bougnoux, Marie‐Elisabeth; Sitterlé, Emilie; Fekkar, Arnaud; Imbert, Sébastien; Bleibtreu, Alexandre; Senghor, Yaye; Denis, Blandine; Molina, Jean‐Michel; Liégeon, Geoffroy; Munnier, Anne-Lise; Malphettes, Marion; Denis, Julie; Berlioz-Arthaud, Alain; Lange, Franciska; Chiaruzzi, Myriam; Epelboin, Loïc

doi:10.1016/j.jmoldx.2021.02.007

Cited by 35 publications

(31 citation statements)

References 34 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…It was mainly used to complement the traditional methods of microscopy and cultures, and the diagnosis of only three PLWH was exclusively based on PCR [38]. As no details are given concerning PCR protocols and gene targets used, it is difficult to draw any definite conclusions about the role of PCR in the diagnosis of histoplasmosis, especially in non-endemic countries [160]; however, it is worth noting that a recent French comparative study has found that using real-time quantitative PCR and the ribosomal small subunit RNA (mtSSU) gene of H. capsulatum as a target has the advantage of a high sensitivity (97.7%) [161].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Histoplasmosis Diagnosed in Europe and Israel: A Case Report and Systematic Review of the Literature from 2005 to 2020

Antinori

Giacomelli

Corbellino

et al. 2021

JoF

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Human histoplasmosis is a mycosis caused by two distinct varieties of a dimorphic fungus: Histoplasma capsulatum var. capsulatum and H. capsulatum var. duboisii. In Europe, it is usually imported by migrants and travellers, although there have been some autochthonous cases, especially in Italy; however, most European physicians are unfamiliar with its clinical and pathological picture, particularly among immunocompromised patients without HIV infection. This systematic review of all the cases of histoplasmosis reported in Europe and Israel between 2005 and 2020 identified 728 cases diagnosed in 17 European countries and Israel described in 133 articles. The vast majority were imported (mainly from Central and South America), but there were also seven autochthonous cases (six in Europe and one in Israel). The patients were prevalently males (60.4%), and their ages ranged from 2 to 86 years. The time between leaving an endemic region and the diagnosis of histoplasmosis varied from a few weeks to more than 40 years. Progressive disseminated histoplasmosis was the most frequent clinical picture among people living with HIV infection (89.5%) or a different immunocompromising condition (57.1%), but it was also recorded in 6.2% of immunocompetent patients. Twenty-eight cases were caused by Histoplasma duboisii. Immunocompromised patients without HIV infection had the worst outcomes, with a mortality rate of 32%.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Histoplasmosis Diagnosed in Europe and Israel: A Case Report and Systematic Review of the Literature from 2005 to 2020

Antinori

Giacomelli

Corbellino

et al. 2021

JoF

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…However, such assays are imperfect. Our pan-dimorphic PCR assay cannot differentiate among cases of infection caused by Histoplasma , Blastomyces and Emergomyces [ 29 ]. The close phylogenetic relationship of these different thermally-dimorphic fungi means that pathogen-specific assays are difficult to develop.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…We modified the published protocol for a novel Histoplasma reverse transcriptase-quantitative PCR assay to target the mitochondrial small subunit of Histoplasma and Emergomyces and used this pan-dimorphic assay on cultured isolates and directly on clinical specimens including fresh tissue, formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissue, bone marrow aspirates, whole blood or plasma and urine [ 28 , 29 ]. Briefly, DNA from tissue samples was extracted using the Qiagen DNA FFPE tissue kit (Qiagen, Hilden, Germany) as per the manufacturer’s instructions.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Endemic mycoses in South Africa, 2010–2020: A decade-long description of laboratory-diagnosed cases and prospects for the future

Mapengo

Maphanga

Grayson³

et al. 2022

PLoS Negl Trop Dis

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Background Emergomycosis, histoplasmosis, sporotrichosis and blastomycosis are endemic to southern Africa; the first two are AIDS-related mycoses. We described laboratory-diagnosed cases of endemic and imported mycoses in South Africa over a decade and discuss available diagnostic tools, reasons for the current under-estimation of cases and future strategies to improve case ascertainment. Materials and methods We analysed electronic pathology laboratory data from all public laboratories and one large private laboratory in South Africa from 2010–2020. Diagnostic specimens processed at the national mycology reference laboratory were also included. We classified cases as proven, probable and possible based on the method of identification. Results We identified 682 cases, of which 307 were proven, 279 were probable and 96 were possible. Of 307 culture-confirmed cases, 168 were identified by phenotypic methods plus sequencing, 128 by phenotypic methods alone and 11 by direct PCR. Of 279 probable cases, 176 had yeasts observed on histology, 100 had a positive Histoplasma antigen test and 3 a positive pan-dimorphic PCR test. All 96 possible cases had compatible clinical syndrome with inflammatory infiltrates on skin tissue histology. A majority of cases had an unspecified endemic mycosis (207/682, 30.4%), followed by sporotrichosis (170/682, 24.9%), emergomycosis (154/682, 22.6%), histoplasmosis (133/682, 19.5%), blastomycosis (14/682, 2.1%) and talaromycosis (4/682, 0.6%). Conclusions This study reports a relatively low number of cases over a decade considering an estimated large population at risk, suggesting that a substantial fraction of cases may remain undiagnosed. There is a need to increase awareness among healthcare workers and to develop rapid point-of-care diagnostic tools and make these widely accessible.

show abstract

“…Both patients stood close to the hollow tree when the bats flew out, but the man much closer than the woman, which may explain his more severe symptoms, although different immune responses can also explain the different disease courses. Histoplasma was not isolated in the fungal culture, which is considered the gold standard, but a recent report suggests that PCR methods might have a higher sensitivity than culture (Alanio et al, 2021). Treatment for histoplasmosis is usually unnecessary.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%