[Evaluation of a in house serology reagent for the diagnosis of cat-scratch disease defined by PCR].
OBJECTIVE
evaluate the sensitivity and the specificity of the cat scratch disease serology by indirect immunofluorescence assay, realized from an in-house antigenic suspension, with PCR defined cases. Describe the epidemiological characteristics of the cases.


METHODS
the antigenic suspension is realized by culture of a Houston 1 ATCC 49882 B. henselae reference strain on horse blood agar suspended in egg formoled PBS. Real time PCR from clinical samples is performed by amplification of a 998-bp 16S rDNA sequence with Bart and r-BH primers.


RESULTS
In 57 out of 92 (62%) positive patients in PCR, the serology is positive in IgG at low or significative level or positive in IgG with presence of IgM or shows a seroconversion. The specificity in serum samples from 40 control patients is 100%. The average age of the 165 positive patients in PCR is 27.6 years old (3-80). The localization of the lymph nodes is more often axillary (47%) than inguinal (32%) or cervical (16%).


CONCLUSIONS
Our in-house indirect immunofluorescence assay for the cat scratch disease serology shows a sensitivity equivalent to other technics described in the literature, with an excellent specificity.
Trombert-Paolantoni
S
S
Laboratoire Pasteur-Cerba, ZI de l'équerre, rue des béthunes, 95066 Cergy-Pontoise cedex 09, France. strombert@pasteur-cerba.com
Clairet
V
V
Gaulier
E
E
Figarella
P
P
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D018416:Bartonella henselae / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D002372:Cat-Scratch Disease / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D004275:DNA, Ribosomal / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000235:genetics; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D012329:RNA, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / Q000235:genetics; D012189:Retrospective Studies
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D004275:DNA, Ribosomal; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D012329:RNA, Bacterial; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S