title: Detection of Gardnerella vaginalis in vaginal specimens by direct immunofluorescence.
abstract: The preparation of a fluorescein-labeled Gardnerella vaginalis polyclonal antibody is described, and its usefulness is assessed for the detection of this microorganism in vaginal samples obtained from 263 women attending the gynecological department of a general hospital, 66 of whom harbored an intrauterine device. The direct immunofluorescence technique was positive for G. vaginalis in 21% of the specimens, whereas only 12.5% of the total bacteriological cultures were positive. The frequency was higher in patients harboring intrauterine devices since 34.8% exhibited positive immunofluorescence and 30.3% exhibited positive cultures.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Brugmann University Hospital, Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Hansen
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Vray
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Crokaert
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Yourassowsky
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006194:Gardnerella vaginalis / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006190:Haemophilus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006192:Haemophilus Infections / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D007434:Intrauterine Devices / Q000009:adverse effects; D008297:Male; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011817:Rabbits; D014621:Vagina / Q000382:microbiology*; D014627:Vaginitis / Q000175:diagnosis*
chemical_list: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial