A silkworm larvae plasma test for detecting peptidoglycan in cerebrospinal fluid is useful for the diagnosis of bacterial meningitis.
The silkworm larvae plasma (SLP) test has been established based on a cascade reaction triggered by either peptidoglycan or (1, 3)-beta-D-glucan to produce melanin. We applied this test to the diagnosis of bacterial meningitis. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) obtained from patients with bacterial meningitis due to gram-positive bacteria, gram-negative bacteria, or fungi, showed positive reactions to the test. In contrast, CSF from patients with viral meningitis or noninfectious illnesses gave negative reactions. Therefore, this test seems to be useful for diagnosis of bacterial and fungal meningitis. When this test was used together with two types of limulus tests, an endotoxin-specific test, and a conventional test, meningitis was further characterized as gram-positive, gram-negative or fungal meningitis. The SLP test requires a computerized instrument for quantitative colorimetric measurement. A qualitative alternative of this test also can be accomplished by visually observing the darkening color. Thus, this method can be applied for simple and rapid diagnosis of meningitis.
Inada
Katsuya
K
Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, Iwate Medical University, Iwate 020-8505, Japan. kaind@mb.neweb.ne.jp
Takahashi
Kiyomi
K
Ichinohe
Sadato
S
Suda
Hidetoshi
H
Tsuchiya
Masakazu
M
Takahashi
Junkichi
J
Matsuura
Shuji
S
Kasai
Takeshi
T
Yoshida
Masao
M
Endo
Shigeatsu
S
Sato
Shigehiro
S
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D001681:Biological Assay; D012831:Bombyx / Q000254:growth & development; D002555:Cerebrospinal Fluid / Q000737:chemistry*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006090:Gram-Negative Bacteria / Q000737:chemistry*; D006094:Gram-Positive Bacteria / Q000737:chemistry*; D006458:Hemolymph; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007814:Larva; D008297:Male; D016920:Meningitis, Bacterial / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology*; D010457:Peptidoglycan / Q000032:analysis*
D010457:Peptidoglycan