Detection of Borrelia burgdorferi by DNA amplification in synovial tissue samples from patients with Lyme arthritis.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the detection rates of chromosomal flagellin gene from Borrelia burgdorferi in synovial tissue (ST) and synovial fluid (SF) using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) techniques.


METHODS
B burgdorferi DNA was sought in SF and ST from 12 consecutive patients with Lyme arthritis and from 29 patients with noninfectious diseases (controls).


RESULTS
No DNA amplification was observed in samples obtained from the 29 control patients, whereas B burgdorferi DNA was detected in all ST and/or SF samples from the 12 patients with Lyme arthritis. Results from 1 ST sample were not interpretable because of PCR inhibitors. Among the 11 remaining patients, 10 had positive ST samples, whereas only 4 had positive SF samples (P < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
These data suggest that detection of chromosomal B burgdorferi DNA may be more efficient in ST than SF.
Jaulhac
B
B
Institut de Bactériologie, Université Louis Pasteur, Strasbourg, France.
Chary-Valckenaere
I
I
Sibilia
J
J
Javier
R M
RM
Piémont
Y
Y
Kuntz
J L
JL
Monteil
H
H
Pourel
J
J
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000937:Antigen-Antibody Reactions; D001483:Base Sequence; D015748:Borrelia burgdorferi Group / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000378:metabolism; D002648:Child; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005784:Gene Amplification; D006801:Humans; D008193:Lyme Disease / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D015345:Oligonucleotide Probes / Q000235:genetics; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013048:Specimen Handling; D013582:Synovial Fluid / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology; D013583:Synovial Membrane / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology*
D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D015345:Oligonucleotide Probes