Project News

Histoplasmosis is one of deep-seated mycosis, caused by Genus Histoplasm, BSL-3 pathogen. Although Vietnam is suspected to be one of countries heavily invaded by this pathogen, its prevalence remains to be revealed due to the lack of diagnostic capacity on these pathogens compared with other infectious diseases.

In order to resolve these situation, training course on laboratory diagnosis of Histoplasma was organized from December 2nd to 10th, 2013 with the instruction of Dr. Ohno (short-term expert from National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Japan). Participants were Dr. Ha and two staffs from Laboratory of Rare Bacteria (National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology), and one staff from Laboratory of Microbiology, Bach Mai Hospital. The training course encompassed a wide-range knowledge of Histoplasma from theory of diagnosis to practice on detection method from patient samples, GMT (Good Microbiology Technique), culture method, genetic diagnosis method and ELISA method of antibody detection. By using suspected samples from fever patients of Hospitals, participants carried out ELISA and nested PCR specific to Histoplasma. Although Histoplama could not be isolated from these samples, which required long incubation periods to isolate, four samples were identified as positive in ELISA method indicating the presence and the possible rate of infected cases in the northern Vietnam. The training course represented a major subjects in the future that isolation of Histoplama pathogens is essential as a standard for extending knowledge and development of diagnostic capacity on this pathogen in Vietnam. This training course might shed light on neglected Histoplasmosis as a new infectious disease in Vietnam. Furthermore, strengthening the capacity of Histoplasma laboratory diagnosis is expected to contribute to prevention system against Hitoplasmosis in Vietnam in the future.

Checking of PCR specific for HIstoplasma

ELISA method for detection of specific antibody