title: Diagnosis of human brucellosis in Egypt by polymerase chain reaction.
abstract: This study aimed to establish an accurate and sensitive polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique for the diagnosis of active human brucellosis in Egypt. We failed to extract Brucella DNA with a commercial kit, but an extraction kit designed in-house using 2 sets of primers [B4/B5 (223 bp) and JPF/JPR (193 bp)] was successful and more economical. The technique showed high sensitivity, specificity and accuracy. The PCR positivity increased significantly with increasing seropositivity titres by the standard tube agglutination test and showed 100% positivity in patients with positive blood cultures. We recommend using PCR as an alternative to culture for diagnosis of brucellosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical and Chemical Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Cairo, Cairo, Egypt.
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: El Kholy
authors.forename: H E
authors.initials: HE
authors.lastname: Gomaa
authors.forename: M G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: El Anany
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Abd El Rasheed
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000372:Agglutination Tests / Q000379:methods; D002002:Brucella / Q000235:genetics*; D002006:Brucellosis / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics; D004534:Egypt / Q000453:epidemiology; D019353:Endemic Diseases / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic