Comparison of PCR and culture for detection of Nocardia asteroides in brain specimens from experimentally infected BALB/c mice.
Systemic infection of BALB/c mice with Nocardia asteroides strain GUH-2 results in widespread replication of the organism in the brain, followed by its immune-mediated clearance. The present study compared the sensitivity of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to bacterial culture for detection of cerebral nocardial infection in this experimental system. Mice (n=4/time point) were administered N. asteroides by intravenous injection, and brain specimens were evaluated for Nocardia by PCR and culture at post-infection days 2, 7, 14 and 21. Nocardia was detected by PCR in all infected animals on post-infection days 2, 7, and 14, and in one of four mice on post-infection day 21; in contrast, the organism was detected by culture only on post-infection days 2 and 7. These findings suggest that PCR may be more sensitive than culture for the detection of low numbers of Nocardia in the brain.
William Beaumont Hospital Research Institute, Royal Oak, MI 48073, USA. dloeffler@beaumont.edu
David A
DA
Loeffler
Dianne M
DM
Camp
Lihua Qu
LQ
Nichols
Saipiroon
S
Maksaereekul
Blaine L
BL
Beaman
Peter A
PA
LeWitt
D000818:Animals; D001431:Bacteriological Techniques; D001921:Brain / Q000382:microbiology*; D020806:Central Nervous System Bacterial Infections / Q000382:microbiology*; D003470:Culture Media; D005260:Female; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D009617:Nocardia Infections / Q000382:microbiology; D009616:Nocardia asteroides / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development / Q000302:isolation & purification; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
D003470:Culture Media