Lophomonas as a respiratory pathogen—jumping the gun
- Mewara, Abhishek, Gile, Gillian, Mathison, Blaine, Zhao, Huan, Pritt, Bobbi, Bradbury, Richard
- Authors: Mewara, Abhishek , Gile, Gillian , Mathison, Blaine , Zhao, Huan , Pritt, Bobbi , Bradbury, Richard
- Date: 2024
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Journal of Clinical Microbiology Vol. 62, no. 1 (2024), p.
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: Human infections with the protozoan Lophomonas have been increasingly reported in the medical literature over the past three decades. Initial reports were based on microscopic identification of the purported pathogen in respiratory specimens. Later, a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was developed to detect Lophomonas blattarum, following which there has been a significant increase in reports. In this minireview, we thoroughly examine the published reports of Lophomonas infection to evaluate its potential role as a human pathogen. We examined the published images and videos of purported Lophomonas, compared its morphology and motility characteristics with host bronchial ciliated epithelial cells and true L. blattarum derived from cockroaches, analyzed the published PCR that is being used for its diagnosis, and reviewed the clinical data of patients reported in the English and Chinese literature. From our analysis, we conclude that the images and videos from human specimens do not represent true Lophomonas and are predominantly misidentified ciliated epithelial cells. Additionally, we note that there is insufficient clinical evidence to attribute the cases to Lophomonas infection, as the clinical manifestations are non-specific, possibly caused by other infections and comorbidities, and there is no associated tissue pathology attributable to Lophomonas. Finally, our analysis reveals that the published PCR is not specific to Lophomonas and can amplify DNA from commensal trichomonads. Based on this thorough review, we emphasize the need for rigorous scientific scrutiny before a microorganism is acknowledged as a novel human pathogen and discuss the potential harms of misdiagnoses for patient care and scientific literature. Copyright © 2023 American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.
Where have all the diagnostic morphological parasitologists gone?
- Bradbury, Richard, Sapp, Sarah, Potters, Idzi, Mathison, Blaine, Frean, John, Mewara, Abhishek, Sheorey, Harsha, Tamarozzi, Francesca, Couturier, Marc, Chiodini, Peter, Pritt, Bobbi
- Authors: Bradbury, Richard , Sapp, Sarah , Potters, Idzi , Mathison, Blaine , Frean, John , Mewara, Abhishek , Sheorey, Harsha , Tamarozzi, Francesca , Couturier, Marc , Chiodini, Peter , Pritt, Bobbi
- Date: 2022
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Journal of Clinical Microbiology Vol. 60, no. 11 (2022), p.
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Advances in laboratory techniques have revolutionized parasitology diagnostics over the past several decades. Widespread implementation of rapid antigen detection tests has greatly expanded access to tests for global parasitic threats such as malaria, while next-generation amplification and sequencing methods allow for sensitive and specific detection of human and animal parasites in complex specimen matrices. Recently, the introduction of multiplex panels for human gastrointestinal infections has enhanced the identification of common intestinal protozoa in feces along with bacterial and viral pathogens. Despite the benefits provided by novel diagnostics, increased reliance on nonmicroscopy-based methods has contributed to the progressive, widespread loss of morphology expertise for parasite identification. Loss of microscopy and morphology skills has the potential to negatively impact patient care, public health, and epidemiology. Molecular- and antigen-based diagnostics are not available for all parasites and may not be suitable for all specimen types and clinical settings. Furthermore, inadequate morphology experience may lead to missed and inaccurate diagnoses and erroneous descriptions of new human parasitic diseases. This commentary highlights the need to maintain expert microscopy and morphological parasitology diagnostic skills within the medical and scientific community. We proposed that light microscopy remains an important part of training and practice in the diagnosis of parasitic diseases and that efforts should be made to train the next generation of morphological parasitologists before the requisite knowledge, skills, and capacity for this complex and important mode of diagnosis are lost. In summary, the widespread, progressive loss of morphology expertise for parasite identification negatively impacts patient care, public health, and epidemiology. © 2022 American Society for Microbiology.
- Authors: Bradbury, Richard , Sapp, Sarah , Potters, Idzi , Mathison, Blaine , Frean, John , Mewara, Abhishek , Sheorey, Harsha , Tamarozzi, Francesca , Couturier, Marc , Chiodini, Peter , Pritt, Bobbi
- Date: 2022
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Journal of Clinical Microbiology Vol. 60, no. 11 (2022), p.
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Advances in laboratory techniques have revolutionized parasitology diagnostics over the past several decades. Widespread implementation of rapid antigen detection tests has greatly expanded access to tests for global parasitic threats such as malaria, while next-generation amplification and sequencing methods allow for sensitive and specific detection of human and animal parasites in complex specimen matrices. Recently, the introduction of multiplex panels for human gastrointestinal infections has enhanced the identification of common intestinal protozoa in feces along with bacterial and viral pathogens. Despite the benefits provided by novel diagnostics, increased reliance on nonmicroscopy-based methods has contributed to the progressive, widespread loss of morphology expertise for parasite identification. Loss of microscopy and morphology skills has the potential to negatively impact patient care, public health, and epidemiology. Molecular- and antigen-based diagnostics are not available for all parasites and may not be suitable for all specimen types and clinical settings. Furthermore, inadequate morphology experience may lead to missed and inaccurate diagnoses and erroneous descriptions of new human parasitic diseases. This commentary highlights the need to maintain expert microscopy and morphological parasitology diagnostic skills within the medical and scientific community. We proposed that light microscopy remains an important part of training and practice in the diagnosis of parasitic diseases and that efforts should be made to train the next generation of morphological parasitologists before the requisite knowledge, skills, and capacity for this complex and important mode of diagnosis are lost. In summary, the widespread, progressive loss of morphology expertise for parasite identification negatively impacts patient care, public health, and epidemiology. © 2022 American Society for Microbiology.
- «
- ‹
- 1
- ›
- »