title: Broad range 16S rRNA gene PCR compared to bacterial culture to confirm presumed synovial infection in horses.
abstract: The objectives of the present study were to evaluate the accuracy of broad range 16S rRNA gene PCR compared to bacterial culture for the detection of synovial infection in horses. The study included 57 synovial fluid samples from horses with presumed synovial infection and a control group consisting of 31 synovial fluid samples originating from clinically normal horses and horses with aseptic synovial inflammation. All samples were analysed by 16S PCR with reverse line blot (RLB) hybridisation. Synovial fluid samples were cultured using conventional agar plate methods (APM) and/or blood culture medium (BCM). The results of the study showed a superior detection rate (89.5%) for 16S PCR with RLB. Bacterial culture had lower sensitivity, but highly acceptable detection rates (77.6%) were observed using BCM. APM had very low sensitivity (37.8%) and infection was never detected by plate isolation without positive incubation in BCM. The highest sensitivity (91.8%) for the detection of synovial infection was achieved when the results of incubation in BCM and 16S PCR were combined. For all the tests, the specificity was higher than 90%.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery and Anaesthesiology of Domestic Animals, Ghent University, Salisburylaan 133, B-9820 Merelbeke, Belgium. frederik.pille@ugent.be
authors.forename: Frederik
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Pille
authors.forename: Ann
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Martens
authors.forename: Leo M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Schouls
authors.forename: Jeroen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dewulf
authors.forename: Annemie
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Decostere
authors.forename: Dirk
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Vogelaers
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Gasthuys
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001419:Bacteria / Q000302:isolation & purification; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000662:veterinary*; D006734:Horse Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology*; D006736:Horses / Q000382:microbiology; D007592:Joint Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000662:veterinary*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary*; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013582:Synovial Fluid / Q000382:microbiology*
chemical_list: D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S