title: Specific in situ hybridization of Haemobartonella felis with a DNA probe and tyramide signal amplification.
abstract: Haemobartonella felis is an epierythrocytic bacterium suspected to be the causative agent of feline infectious anemia. Previous studies with a polymerase chain reaction assay have identified a mycoplasmal 16S rRNA gene sequence that coincides with clinical disease and the presence of organisms in the blood. Tissues from a cat experimentally infected with H. felis were used for in situ hybridization studies to physically link this 16S rRNA gene to the organisms on the red cells. A biotin-labeled probe was used in conjunction with tyramide signal amplification to visualize the hybridization signal. This study clearly demonstrates a specific hybridization signal on the red cells in the tissues of the H. felis-infected cat. This in situ hybridization study is the final step in fulfilling the molecular guidelines for disease causation and proves that H. felis, a mycoplasmal organism, is the causative agent of feline infectious anemia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, University of Illinois, Urbana, USA.
authors.forename: L M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Berent
authors.forename: J B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Messick
authors.forename: S K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Cooper
authors.forename: P K
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Cusick
mesh_terms: D000710:Anaplasmataceae / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics*; D000711:Anaplasmataceae Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D000740:Anemia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D000818:Animals; D016470:Bacteremia / Q000662:veterinary; D001710:Biotin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000737:chemistry; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology; D002415:Cats; D003124:Colorimetry / Q000662:veterinary; D015342:DNA Probes; D017403:In Situ Hybridization / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary*; D007668:Kidney / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D008099:Liver / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000662:veterinary; D012329:RNA, Bacterial / Q000737:chemistry; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / Q000737:chemistry; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014439:Tyramine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D015342:DNA Probes; D012329:RNA, Bacterial; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S; C111551:biotinyltyramide; D001710:Biotin; D014439:Tyramine