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Published in: Journal of Medical Case Reports 1/2010

Open Access 01-12-2010 | Case report

Diagnosis of systemic toxoplasmosis with HIV infection using DNA extracted from paraffin-embedded tissue for polymerase chain reaction: a case report

Authors: Yoichiro Okubo, Minoru Shinozaki, Sadako Yoshizawa, Haruo Nakayama, Megumi Wakayama, Tsutomu Hatori, Aki Mituda, Takayuki Hirano, Kayoko Shimodaira, Zhi Yuzhu, Kazutoshi Shibuya

Published in: Journal of Medical Case Reports | Issue 1/2010

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Abstract

Introduction

Toxoplasmosis can be a life-threatening disease when it occurs in patients with HIV infection. In particular, meningioencephalitis has been regarded as the most common toxoplasmic complication in such patients. However, toxoplasmic meningitis in a patient with HIV infection is extremely rare and purulent or tuberculous meningitis should be considered initially as a disease for differential diagnosis in Japan.

Case presentation

Toxoplasmic meningitis in a patient with HIV infection is reported. A 36-year-old Japanese man presented with fever, pulsating headache, lumbago, nausea, and vomiting. No examinations suggested toxoplasmosis including cerebrospinal fluid examinations, images, and serological tests. The result of a polymerase chain reaction assay using paraffin-embedded section was regarded as the conclusive evidence for the diagnosis.

Conclusions

We wish to emphasize the usefulness of polymerase chain reaction assays with nucleic acid extracted from paraffin-embedded tissue sections processed for routine histopathological examination, if the section shows the infectious agents or findings suggesting some infectious diseases.
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Metadata
Title
Diagnosis of systemic toxoplasmosis with HIV infection using DNA extracted from paraffin-embedded tissue for polymerase chain reaction: a case report
Authors
Yoichiro Okubo
Minoru Shinozaki
Sadako Yoshizawa
Haruo Nakayama
Megumi Wakayama
Tsutomu Hatori
Aki Mituda
Takayuki Hirano
Kayoko Shimodaira
Zhi Yuzhu
Kazutoshi Shibuya
Publication date
01-12-2010
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
Journal of Medical Case Reports / Issue 1/2010
Electronic ISSN: 1752-1947
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/1752-1947-4-265

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