Detection of 'Rickettsia tsutsugamushi' by Gene Amplification Using Polymerase Chain Reaction Techniques
Abstract
Scrub typhus remains a major cause of febrile illness throughout the Asia-Pacific region. Delay in diagnosis or the absence of a differential diagnosis has been shown to result in significant mortality. The specific diagnosis of this disease is generally based on retrospective serodiagnosis, because clinically useful, rapid methods for cultivation and identification of the etiologic agent, Rickettsia tsutsugamushi, are not available. The recent introduction of gene amplification by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) has proven useful in the diagnosis of certain infectious diseases for which the agents are difficult to grow or detect. The laboratory mouse provides a well-established animal model for the study of scrub typhus. Using the murine scrub typhus model and DNA primer derived from the DNA sequence of the 56-kilodalton (kDa) antigen of the Karp strain of R. tsutsugamushi, we have developed a rapid direct-agent detection system for R. tsutsugamushi which is based on PCR amplification of rickettsial DNA. We present here the first application of PCR methodology used for the detection of the etiologic agent of scrub typhus and show that its sensitivity and specificity are adequate for the detection of the sparse numbers of rickettsiae present during infection.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 1990
- Accession Number
- ADA227297
Entities
People
- Charles K. Stover
- Daryl J. Kelly
- David P. Marana
- Edwin V. Oaks
- Mitchell Carl
Organizations
- Naval Medical Research Center