Identification of Mycobacterium marinum 65 kD heat shock protein gene by polymerase chain reaction restriction analysis from lesions of swimming pool granuloma.
BACKGROUND
Nontuberculous mycobacterium (NTM) had been reported to cause cutaneous infections which are difficult to interpret due to the variability of the clinical manifestations. Among NTM infections, Mycobacterium marinum (M. marinum) are mostly seen to cause skin infection. It is therefore important to establish a rapid approach for detection and identification of M. marinum from lesions of patients with suspected M. marinum infections.


METHODS
Specimens were obtained from 5 patients with swimming pool granuloma. DNA was extracted and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was performed. PCR products were digested with Hae III and BstE II, then analysed by pattern restriction analysis to detect heat shock protein (hsp) 65 kD gene.


RESULTS
The 65 kD hsp gene was found in all specimens from patients with swimming pool granuloma. PCR restriction analysis (PRA) identified all 5 samples to be M. marinum infections, and the result was consistent with that of routine bacteriological identification. The lesions subsided or markedly improved upon treatment.


CONCLUSIONS
PRA is a sensitive, specific and rapid method in identification of mycobacteria. Application of this method will be helpful for early diagnosis of mycobacterial skin infections.
Cai
Lin
L
Department of Dermatology, Peking University People's Hospital, Beijing 100044, China. scailin@sohu.com
Chen
Xue
X
Zhao
Ting
T
Ding
Bei-chuan
BC
Zhang
Jian-zhong
JZ
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D018834:Chaperonin 60; D018833:Chaperonins / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D006099:Granuloma / Q000382:microbiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019910:Mycobacterium marinum / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*; D017192:Skin Diseases, Bacterial / Q000175:diagnosis*; D013194:Staining and Labeling; D013551:Swimming Pools
D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D018834:Chaperonin 60; C074119:heat-shock protein 65, Mycobacterium; D018833:Chaperonins