Evaluation of a real-time PCR assay to detect Coxiella burnetii.
We evaluated real-time PCR assays for the detection of C. burnetii which targets sequences that are present either in one (icd) or in several copies (transposase of IS1111a) on the chromosome. The assays are highly sensitive, with reproducible detection limits of approximately 10 copies per reaction, at least 100 times more sensitive than capture ELISA, when performed on infected placenta material and specific for C. burnetii. The numbers of IS1111 elements in the genomes of 75 C. burnetii isolates were quantified by real-time PCR and proved to be highly variable.
Klee
Silke R
SR
Robert Koch-Institut, Centre for Biological Safety, Nordufer 20, 13353 Berlin, Germany. KleeS@rki.de
Ellerbrok
Heinz
H
Tyczka
Judith
J
Franz
Tatjana
T
Appel
Bernd
B
D016997:Coxiella burnetii / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011778:Q Fever / Q000175:diagnosis*; D019895:Transposases / Q000235:genetics
D019895:Transposases