Polymerase chain reaction detection of aspergillus DNA in experimental models of invasive aspergillosis.
To determine the sensitivity of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays for the diagnosis of invasive aspergillosis, results of quantitative culture, PCR-ELISA, and a quantitative LightCycler assay (Roche Diagnostics) of blood and organ specimens of experimentally infected mice and rabbits were compared. By PCR-ELISA, 297 of 379 murine lung specimens were positive, but only 235 of 379 were culture positive. Whereas 64 culture-negative lungs were positive by PCR, Aspergillus was grown from only 2 PCR-negative samples. The PCR assay was 19.4 times more sensitive than culture. None of the 68 blood cultures from mice and rabbits were positive for Aspergillus fumigatus, whereas PCR detected Aspergillus DNA in 17 of 68 blood samples. Quantitative PCR analysis of blood samples showed a fungus load of 10(1)-10(2) cfu/mL of blood. The data confirm the superior sensitivity of PCR for the diagnosis of experimental Aspergillus infections.
Loeffler
Juergen
J
Medizinische Klinik Abteilung II, University of Tuebingen, Otfried-Mueller-Strasse 10, 72076 Tuebingen, Germany. juergen.loeffler@med.uni-tuebingen.de
Kloepfer
Kerstin
K
Hebart
Holger
H
Najvar
Laura
L
Graybill
John R
JR
Kirkpatrick
William R
WR
Patterson
Thomas F
TF
Dietz
Klaus
K
Bialek
Ralf
R
Einsele
Hermann
H
D000818:Animals; D001228:Aspergillosis / Q000175:diagnosis*; D001232:Aspergillus fumigatus / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D004271:DNA, Fungal / Q000032:analysis* / Q000097:blood; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D016469:Fungemia / Q000382:microbiology; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*; D011817:Rabbits
D004271:DNA, Fungal