Aspergillus Species Identification in Clinical Setting

A laboratory update in identification of aspergillus species using different techniques in a clinical laboratory setting.


Aspergillus species Identification
Authors: S.A. Balajee, J. Houbraken, P.E. Verweij, S-B. Hong, T. Yaghuchi, J. Varga and R.A. Samson

Publisher: www.studiesinmycology.org

Article type: Journal Article

Abstract:
Multiple recent studies have demonstrated the limited utility of morphological methods used singly for species identification of clinically
relevant aspergilli. It is being increasingly recognised that comparative sequence based methods used in conjunction with traditional phenotype based methods can offer better resolution of species within this genus. Recognising the growing role of molecular methods in species recognition, the recently convened international working group meeting entitled "Aspergillus Systematics in the Genomic Era" has proposed several recommendations that will be useful in such endeavors. Specific recommendations of this working group include the use of the ITS regions for inter section level identification and the beta-tubulin locus for identification of individual species within the various Aspergillus sections.

Short Introduction:
Aspergilli cause a wide spectrum of infections including cutaneous manifestations, otomycosis, and invasive infections such as pulmonary aspergillosis and endocarditis. Pulmonary aspergillosis may range from invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA) in severely immunocompromised patients to chronic necrotising aspergillosis in mildly immunocompromised populations. The risk of IPA appears to be much higher in hematopoietic stem cell transplant patients and in patients with leukemia, where the attributable mortality rate was 38.5 % according to a recent study (Pagano et al. 2007). Aspergillus fumigatus remains the predominant agent of IPA, followed by either A. terreus or A. flavus depending on the medical center. Recently, IPA due to A. ustus and other rare aspergilli such as A. alliaceus (Balajee et al. 2007), A. lentulus (Balajee et al. 2005a) and A. udagawae (Balajee et al. 2006) have been reported.

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