title: Detection by immunofluorescence assay of Bartonella henselae in lymph nodes from patients with cat scratch disease.
abstract: Laboratory diagnosis of Bartonella henselae infections can be accomplished by serology or PCR assay on biopsy samples. The purpose of our work was to assess immunofluorescence detection (IFD) in lymph node smears using a specific monoclonal antibody directed against B. henselae and a commercial serology assay (IFA) compared with PCR detection. Among 200 lymph nodes examined from immunocompetent patients, 54 were positive for B. henselae by PCR, of which 43 were also positive by IFD. Among the 146 PCR-negative lymph nodes, 11 were positive by IFD. Based on PCR results, the specificity of this new technique was 92.5%, the sensitivity was 79.6%, and the positive predictive value was 79.6%. At a cutoff titer of 64, the sensitivity of the IFA was 86.8% and the specificity was 74.1%. Diagnosis of cat scratch disease (CSD) may be improved, with a specificity of 100%, when the two tests (IFD and IFA) were negative; the sensitivity was 97.4% if one of the two tests was positive. Since PCR-based detection with biopsy samples is available only in reference laboratories, we suggest using IFD coupled with the commercial serology test for the diagnosis of CSD.
authors.affiliation: Unité des Rickettsies, CNRS UMR 6020A, Faculté de Médecine, Université de la Méditerranée, 13385 Marseille Cedex 05, France.
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Rolain
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Gouriet
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Enea
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Aboud
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Raoult
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000276:immunology; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000276:immunology; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics; D018416:Bartonella henselae / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D002372:Cat-Scratch Disease / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D019084:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000382:microbiology*; D008206:Lymphatic Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D008875:Middle Aged; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012699:Serology
chemical_list: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D004269:DNA, Bacterial