title: Use of RT-PCR on oral fluid samples to assist the identification of measles cases during an outbreak.
abstract: This study investigated the occurrence of mild modified measles cases during an outbreak in Niterói, RJ, Brazil by using RT-PCR on oral fluid samples. From August to December 1997 a total of 76 patients with rash were seen at the study sites. Confirmed diagnosis by serology was achieved in 47 cases: measles (39.5%), rubella (13.2%), HHV-6 (3.9%), human parvovirus B19 (3.9%), dengue fever (3%). For 19 of the 29 patients without a conclusive diagnosis paired serum and saliva samples were available for further tests. In four of them, measles virus RNA was detected by RT-PCR in saliva samples in the absence of specific IgM in serum samples. Vaccination histories obtained from three of the RT-PCR positive cases showed that individuals previously immunized can still be infected and contribute to the circulation of measles virus. This study demonstrated the usefulness of RT-PCR on non-invasive clinical samples for the investigation of measles cases.
authors.affiliation: Disciplina de Doenças Infecciosas e Parasitárias, Hospital Universitário Antonio Pedro, Rua Marquês do Paraná, 303, 2o andar, Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil, 24030-210.
authors.forename: S A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Oliveira
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Siqueira
authors.forename: L A B
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Camacho
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Castro-Silva
authors.forename: B F
authors.initials: BF
authors.lastname: Bruno
authors.forename: B J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Cohen
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008457:Measles / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D008459:Measles virus / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D012463:Saliva / Q000821:virology
chemical_list: D012367:RNA, Viral