Non-cultural detection and molecular genotyping of Neisseria gonorrhoeae from a piece of clothing.
Isolation of Neisseria gonorrhoeae is currently the gold standard for the definitive diagnosis of gonorrhoea and for use in medico-legal cases in the UK. Molecular detection methods are used increasingly but are untested as evidence of infection in a court of law. An isolate of N. gonorrhoeae was obtained from a child and an article of clothing from an adult male who was suspected of sexual abuse of the child. Biochemical and immunological tests were used to confirm the isolate as N. gonorrhoeae. Amplification by PCR using two targets, cppB and ompIII, was used both as further confirmation of the isolate and to detect the presence of gonococcal-specific DNA from the clothing. The relationship of the gonococcal DNA from the child and the adult was investigated using genotyping (N. gonorrhoeae multi-antigen sequence typing; NG-MAST), including a nested PCR for the por gene. Both samples were indistinguishable by NG-MAST and shared the same sequence type, 403. This is the first report of molecular detection and genotyping of N. gonorrhoeae on an article of clothing, which resulted in conviction of the man for sexual assault.
Martin
Iona M C
IMC
Sexually Transmitted Bacteria Reference Laboratory, Health Protection Agency Centre for Infections, 61 Colindale Avenue, London NW9 5EQ, UK.
Foreman
Ellie
E
Forensic Science Service, 109 Lambeth Road, London SE1 7LP, UK.
Hall
Vicky
V
Forensic Science Service, 109 Lambeth Road, London SE1 7LP, UK.
Nesbitt
Anne
A
The Haven, Brady Street, Whitechapel, London E1, UK.
Forster
Greta
G
Genitourinary Medicine, Barts and the London NHS Trust, London, UK.|The Haven, Brady Street, Whitechapel, London E1, UK.
Ison
Catherine A
CA
Sexually Transmitted Bacteria Reference Laboratory, Health Protection Agency Centre for Infections, 61 Colindale Avenue, London NW9 5EQ, UK.
D000328:Adult; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D002648:Child; D002650:Child Abuse, Sexual / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D003020:Clothing; D005260:Female; D053803:Forensic Genetics / Q000379:methods*; D005838:Genotype; D006069:Gonorrhea / Q000382:microbiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009344:Neisseria gonorrhoeae / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification*
D001426:Bacterial Proteins