title: Detection of Mycobacterium paratuberculosis in formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissues by the polymerase chain reaction.
abstract: The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) utilizing primers specific for the IS900 sequence of Mycobacterium paratuberculosis was applied to tissue sections of formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded ileum from cattle with Johne's disease and the results compared to those obtained with acid-fast (Ziehl-Neelsen) and immunohistochemical staining. The PCR was positive in 19/21 tissues (90%) while Ziehl-Neelsen staining was positive in 18/21 (86%) and immunohistochemical staining in 21/21 (100%). The Ziehl-Neelsen and immunohistochemical stains are not, however, specific for M. paratuberculosis. The PCR for detection of M. paratuberculosis using the IS900 sequence is a specific and relatively sensitive method for confirmation of Johne's disease and its application to formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissues may be useful for confirmation of dubious cases, for retrospective studies and for epidemiological analyses.
authors.affiliation: Saskatchewan Research Council, Saskatoon.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Plante
authors.forename: B W
authors.initials: BW
authors.lastname: Remenda
authors.forename: B J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Chelack
authors.forename: D M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Haines
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D002417:Cattle; D004396:Coloring Agents; D017931:DNA Primers; D007150:Immunohistochemistry / Q000379:methods; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016927:Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D010283:Paratuberculosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013194:Staining and Labeling / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D004396:Coloring Agents; D017931:DNA Primers