title: Diagnosis of Yersinia pseudotuberculosis infection by polymerase chain reaction.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Seoul National University Children's Hospital, ChongRo-Gu, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: H I
authors.initials: HI
authors.lastname: Cheong
authors.forename: H W
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: J W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Koo
authors.forename: D K
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Jin
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: I S
authors.initials: IS
authors.lastname: Ha
authors.forename: H J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: E C
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Choi
mesh_terms: 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*