Discrimination between Francisella tularensis and Francisella-like endosymbionts when screening ticks by PCR.
The presence of Francisella-like endosymbionts in tick species known to transmit tularemia poses a potential diagnostic problem for laboratories that screen tick samples by PCR for Francisella tularensis. Tick samples initially considered positive for F. tularensis based on standard 16S rRNA gene PCR were found to be positive only for Francisella-like endosymbionts using a multitarget F. tularensis TaqMan assay (ISFtu2, tul4, and iglC) and 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Specificity of PCR-based diagnostics for F. tularensis should be carefully evaluated with appropriate specimen types prior to diagnostic use.
Kugeler
Kiersten J
KJ
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Division of Vector-Borne Infectious Diseases, Foothills Campus, P.O. Box 2087, Ft. Collins, CO 80522, USA.
Gurfield
Nikos
N
Creek
Jean G
JG
Mahoney
Kerry S
KS
Versage
Jessica L
JL
Petersen
Jeannine M
JM
D000818:Animals; D005603:Francisella / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005604:Francisella tularensis / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D013045:Species Specificity; D013559:Symbiosis; D013987:Ticks / Q000382:microbiology*; D014406:Tularemia / Q000382:microbiology / Q000635:transmission