Molecular Identification of <i>Tritrichomonas foetus</i> -Like Organisms as Coinfecting Agents of Human <i>Pneumocystis</i> Pneumonia

Abstract

Trichomonads closely related to the bovid parasite Tritrichomonas foetus were identified in the bronchoalveolar lavage sample from a patient with AIDS in association with Pneumocystis pneumonia. This human case of T. foetus-like infection emphasizes the zoonotic potential of trichomonads, although the existence of a human-host-adapted T. foetus strain cannot be excluded.