ORGANISM 6--Pneumocystis carinii
GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS
COMMON NAME: None.
GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION: Cosmopolitan.
PATHOGENESIS: Causes interstitial plasma cell pneumonia usually in infants and
immunocompromised persons.
HABITAT: Lungs.
INTERMEDIATE HOST: None.
RESERVOIR HOSTS: Rodents, a variety of animals.
INFECTIVE FORM: Mature cyst.
MODE OF INFECTION: Air-borne sputum particles inhaled, transplacental.
LABORATORY IDENTIFICATION:
SPECIMEN SOURCE: Pulmonary material; bronchial washings; biopsies.
SPECIAL TECHNIQUES: Giemsa's stain; methenamine silver nitrate, Gram-Weigert.
Figure 2-15. Life cycle of Pneumocystis carinii.
MD0842
2-16
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