ABSTRACT
Diagnosis is hampered by the inability to culture the organism and based on microscopic examination of respiratory samples, x-ray patterns, or clinical presentation. New assays can assist in the diagnosis and even aid with the emergence of resistant infections. Molecular diagnosis of Pneumocystis pneumonia (PJP) is based on the detection of P. jirovecii DNA in clinical samples. The performance of conventional staining has been supplanted by immunofluorescence microscopy using anti-P. jirovecii monoclonal antibodies. Serological tools are used for microscopic detection of P. jirovecii in respiratory tract specimens. The microscopic examination of P. jirovecii structures in respiratory samples can be achieved by staining with the methenamine silver stain or with the Giemsa stain. A. L. Tomas et al. produced a multi-epitope recombinant synthetic antigen of P. jirovecii Msg and applied it to an indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method for the detection of anti-P. jirovecii immunoglobulin M and immunoglobulin G antibodies.
