Screening pneumonia patients for mimivirus

Emerg Infect Dis. 2008 Mar;14(3):465-7. doi: 10.3201/eid1403.071027.

Abstract

Acanthamoeba polyphaga mimivirus (APM), a virus of free-living amebae, has reportedly caused human respiratory disease. Using 2 newly developed real-time PCR assays, we screened 496 respiratory specimens from 9 pneumonia-patient populations for APM. This virus was not detected in any specimen, which suggests it is not a common respiratory pathogen.

MeSH terms

  • Acanthamoeba / virology*
  • Animals
  • DNA Viruses / isolation & purification*
  • DNA, Viral
  • Humans
  • Pneumonia / virology*
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction

Substances

  • DNA, Viral