title: Development of a heminested polymerase chain reaction assay for the detection of Haemophilus ducreyi in clinical specimens.
abstract: Detection of Haemophilus ducreyi in genital ulcer specimens by culture lacks sensitivity. To enhance detection, a heminested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay was developed targeting the nucleotide sequence of a gene, designated p27, which encodes for a 27 kDa H. ducreyi-specific protein. The p27 PCR assay detected all (37/37) H. ducreyi strains tested and gave no amplified product from DNA extracts of any of 31 other microorganisms, from 30 non-genital ulcer specimens, or from 29 urethral and vaginal swab specimens collected from non-chancroid STD patients. In genital ulcer disease specimens, compared to combined positive results obtained by culture and a previously described PCR assay, the p27 PCR assay showed a sensitivity of 91% (48/53). The p27 PCR assay provides a specific and a sensitive detection of H. ducreyi in clinical specimens.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tekle-Michael
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Van Dyck
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Abdellati
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Laga
mesh_terms: D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D002602:Chancroid / Q000382:microbiology*; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis; D005832:Genital Diseases, Male / Q000382:microbiology*; D006191:Haemophilus ducreyi / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests
chemical_list: D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D004269:DNA, Bacterial