title: [Detection of Bartonella (Rochalimaea) henselae/B. quintana by polymerase chain reaction (PCR)].
abstract: Bartonella (Rochalimaea) henselae and/or B. quintana are the causative agents of a variety of infections such as trench fever, bacillary angiomatosis, septicemia, peliosis hepatis and endocarditis. Recently, B. henselae has been identified as a major cause of cat scratch disease. Diagnosis of such infections is based on clinical information, histopathology, culture and serology. However, none of these methods alone is sufficiently sensitive or specific. We have used the PCR to search for DNA specific for B. henselae/B. quintana in 33 clinical samples and in 6 controls. In comparison with clinical data and histopathology, PCR was extremely specific (100%) and reasonably sensitive (61%). Possible explanations for the limited sensitivity of PCR are discussed. We conclude that PCR provides a useful adjunct for the diagnosis of infections caused by B. henselae and B. quintana.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Medizinische Mikrobiologie der Universität Zürich.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Goldenberger
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Zbinden
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Perschil
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Altwegg
mesh_terms: D001474:Bartonella Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology; D018416:Bartonella henselae / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D018413:Bartonella quintana / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D009693:Nucleic Acid Hybridization; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
chemical_list: D004269:DNA, Bacterial
vernacular_title: Nachweis von Bartonella (Rochalimaea) henselae/B. quintana mittels Polymerase-kettenreaktion (PCR).