Rapid PCR-single-strand conformation polymorphism method to differentiate and estimate relative abundance of Pneumocystis carinii special forms infecting rats

A rapid method that uses PCR-single-strand conformation polymorphism analys is of the intron of the nuclear 26S rRNA gene was shown to differentiate th e two Pneumocystis carinii special forms that infect rats, P. carinii f. sp . carinii and A carinii f. sp. ratti. The method also provides a means for estimation of the relative abundance of the two special forms in the case o f a coinfected rat. The results suggest that the method described will help to further standardize the immunosuppressed rat model of P. carinii infect ion and, thus, contribute to a better understanding of P. carinii infection in humans.