Further investigations on the association of Mycobacterium tuberculosis with Eales' disease.
OBJECTIVE
To apply polymerase chain reaction (PCR) on vitreous fluid (VF) from Eales' disease to further confirm its association with Mycobacterium tuberculosis.


METHODS
Sixty nine VF samples from 69 patients (24 Eales' disease and 45 Non-Eales' as controls) were processed by conventional methods for detection of mycobacteria. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) specific for IS 6110 and nested PCR (nPCR) using primers coding for MPB 64 gene were applied on all 69 VF. PCR based dot-blot hybridisation was applied on the IS 6110 amplified products of n PCR-positive VFs.


RESULTS
Conventional methods (direct smear and culture) did not detect mycobacteria in any of the 69 VF samples. Five (20.8%) of 24 VF from Eales' and 2 (4.2%) of 45 VF from control patients tested positive for M. tuberculosis DNA by nPCR. This difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05). All 69 VF were negative by PCR for IS 6110. Two VF of Eales' patients positive by nPCR were also positive by DNA probe dot-blot hybridisation for IS 6110.


CONCLUSIONS
Detection of M. tuberculosis DNA by PCR in a significant number of VF of Eales' disease patients reemphasizes the association of this bacterium with Eales' disease.
Madhavan
Hajib N
HN
Microbiology Research Centre, Vision Research Foundation, Sankara Nethralaya, 18 College Road, Chennai-600 006. MDSAAA35@giasmd01.vsnl.net.in
Therese
Kulandai L
KL
Doraiswamy
Kavitha
K
D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D009169:Mycobacterium tuberculosis / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012164:Retinal Diseases / Q000382:microbiology*; D014392:Tuberculosis, Ocular / Q000382:microbiology*; D014657:Vasculitis / Q000382:microbiology*; D014822:Vitreous Body / Q000382:microbiology*
D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D004269:DNA, Bacterial