Diagnosis of Yersinia pseudotuberculosis infection by polymerase chain reaction.
BACKGROUND
The diagnosis of Yersinia pseudotuberculosis infection is usually based on serologic and/or bacteriologic tests. However, successfully culturing Y. pseudotuberculosis is difficult, and serologic tests in many cases require at least two serial sera obtained during 1-week intervals to confirm rising agglutination antibody titers.


METHODS
We applied a nested polymerase chain reaction method for rapid diagnosis of Y. pseudotuberculosis infection. The DNAs extracted from the peripheral blood and urine of patients and from mountain water, a suspected source of infection, were used as templates for the polymerase chain reaction with consequent amplification of a fragment of the inv gene in the chromosomal DNA of Y. pseudotuberculosis.


RESULTS
The overall rate of diagnosis with the polymerase chain reaction, which was based on a positive result with a single blood sample or one or more positive results with serial samples, was 93.3%. The polymerase chain reaction was also positive in two mountain water samples that were thought to be a source of infection.


CONCLUSIONS
Based on our results the nested polymerase chain reaction method can be used clinically for rapid and precise diagnosis of Y. pseudotuberculosis infection.
Cheong
H I
HI
Department of Pediatrics, Seoul National University Children's Hospital, ChongRo-Gu, Seoul, Korea.
Park
H W
HW
Koo
J W
JW
Jin
D K
DK
Park
M S
MS
Ha
I S
IS
Lee
H J
HJ
Kim
E C
EC
Choi
Y
Y
D001483:Base Sequence; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007723:Korea; D008297:Male; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D015012:Yersinia pseudotuberculosis Infections / Q000175:diagnosis*