RT-PCR assay: a diagnostic tool for toxoplasma reactivation in immunocompromised host.
Issued Date
2008
Resource Type
Language
eng
Rights
Mahidol University
Suggested Citation
Yaowalark Sukthana (2008). RT-PCR assay: a diagnostic tool for toxoplasma reactivation in immunocompromised host.. Retrieved from: https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/123456789/40192
Title
RT-PCR assay: a diagnostic tool for toxoplasma reactivation in immunocompromised host.
Author(s)
Other Contributor(s)
Abstract
Although Toxoplasma gondii infects human and warm-blooded animal worldwide, there is non specific sign and symptom. Majority of the cases thus always unrecognized such infection, whilst the bradyzoites maintain in infected host life long. However, when host immunity is impaired the quiescence bradyzoites will be
reactivated into rapidly dividing tachyzoites causing Toxoplasmic encephalitis (TE), a
life threatening disease. Definite diagnosis could not be made by only one method. Presumptive diagnosis is mainly based on central nervous system manifestations, suggestive neuro-imaging features, sero- positive T. gondii antibodies and therapeutic
response to anti-toxoplasmic drugs.Over three decades, PCR-based techniques have been introduced and found to be useful for the diagnosis of parasitic infections including Toxoplasma. However, it could not differentiate between bradyzoite and tachyzoite state. Recently, many stage
specific genes of T. gondii have been identified along with the development of
molecular technologies. Our laboratory have developed the Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in order to detect the expression of Toxoplasma bradyzoite (BAG1) and
tachyzoite (SAG1) specific genes during stage conversion in immunocompromised patients. It was found that RT-PCR is an efficient assay which high sensitivity and specificity. In addition, this assay could identify the process of re-differentiation from bradyzoites into tachyzoites at the earliest stage, enabling the prophylaxis or treatment of patients in time before the occurrence of severe clinical manifestations. Moreover,
the duplex RT-PCR could be further developed to offer a rapid, sensitive, easy-tohandle
and reproducible method. Thus the RT-PCR technique may serve as an alternative tool to diagnose TE in severely immuno-compromised patients in the next decade.
Description
Annual Congress and Expo of Molecular Diagnosis. Beijing, China. October 22-28, 2008