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Pneumocystis jiroveci
*** Shopping-Tip: Pneumocystis jiroveci
{{Taxobox
| color = lightblue
| name = ''Pneumocystis jiroveci''
| regnum =
Fungi
| phylum =
Ascomycota
| classis =
Pneumocystis Pneumocystidomycetes
| ordo =
Pneumocystis Pneumocystidales
| familia =
Pneumocystis Pneumocystidaceae
| genus = ''
Pneumocystis''
| species = '''''P. jiroveci'''''
| binomial = ''Pneumocystis jiroveci''
| binomial_authority = J.K.Frenkel
}}
'''''Pneumocystis jiroveci''''', sometimes called by its former name ''Pneumocystis carinii'', is a
fungus (earlier classified as a
protozoa) that causes
pneumocystis jiroveci pneumonia (PCP). It affects those with weakened
immune systems such as children and the elderly, but is especially common in patients with
AIDS. Jiroveci is pronounced "yee row vet zee".
''Pneumocystis'' infection is diagnosed by silver staining of the
sputum.
In
immunocompromised patients (e.g. those on
chemotherapy or
AIDS with a low CD4+ count; below 200/mm³), prophylaxis with regular
pentamidine inhalations or
sulfamethoxazole/
trimethoprim (
co-trimoxazole or TMP-SMX) may be necessary.
It is distributed worldwide.
image:Pneumocystis.jpg thumb|left|150px|''Pneumocystis jiroveci'' cysts from bronchoalveolar lavage, stained with Giemsa stain
Nomenclature
The name ''P. jiroveci'', to distinguish the organism found in humans from variants of ''Pneumocystis'' found in other animals, was first proposed in 1976, in honor of
Otto Jirovec, who described ''Pneumocystis'' pneumonia in humans in 1952. After DNA analysis showed significant differences in the human variant, the proposal was made again in 1999 and has come into common use; ''P. carinii'' still describes the species found in rats, while ''P. murina'' describes that found in mice. The
International Code of Botanical Nomenclature would normally require the name to be spelled ''jirovecii'' rather than ''jiroveci''; both spellings are currently in use.
Reference
-
A New Name (''Pneumocystis jiroveci'') for ''Pneumocystis'' from Humans - from the Centers for Disease Control.
{{fungus-stub}}
Category:Ascomycetes
fr:Pneumocystose
pl:Pneumocystis jiroveci
pt:Pneumocistose
