Evaluation of an improved DNA probe for diagnosis of pertussis.
A Bordetella pertussis specific subclone, pRZ61, of a Bordetella genus-specific clone, pB23, was evaluated on nasopharyngeal aspirates of 179 patients with suspected pertussis. Hybridization was performed directly after spotting or after 1-3 days of preculture of the nylon membranes on solid culture medium. A direct comparison of the two probes was obtained by reprobing with the subclone the same membranes that had been hybridized with the parent probe. pRZ61 detected 50% of the serologically defined cases of pertussis, that is, had the same sensitivity as standard culture. Specificity as compared with serology was close to 100%. The increasing sensitivity and the corresponding decreasing specificity after preculture noted for pB23 was not seen with the subclone. The study showed that the improved probe represents a rapid diagnostic method in pertussis.
Reizenstein
E
E
Department of Bacteriology, National Bacteriological Laboratory, Stockholm, Sweden.
Löfdahl
S
S
Granström
M
M
Granström
G
G
Alsheikhly
A R
AR
D001886:Bordetella pertussis / Q000302:isolation & purification; D015342:DNA Probes / Q000235:genetics; D003720:Densitometry / Q000379:methods; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D006801:Humans; D009693:Nucleic Acid Hybridization; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014917:Whooping Cough / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics
D015342:DNA Probes