title: Detection of Treponema pallidum in aqueous humor by real-time polymerase chain reaction.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To report the additional clinical value of real-time Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in the detection of Treponema pallidum in aqueous humor.
  
  
  METHODS
  A real-time (RT) PCR assay targeting the polymerase 1 gene of Treponema pallidum was performed in aqueous humor samples collected in consecutive patients with ocular syphilis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Five patients presenting with optic neuritis (1), posterior placoid chorioretinitis (1), or panuveitis with retinitis (3) were tested. The PCR results were positive in the 3 cases of panuveitis and negative in the 2 other cases.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  RT-PCR for Treponema pallidum in aqueous humor is useful to confirm syphilitic panuveitis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Hospices Civils de Lyon, University Hospital, Claude Bernard Lyon I University, Lyon, France. pierre-loic.cornut@chu-lyon.fr
authors.forename: Pierre-Loïc
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Cornut
authors.forename: Chantal Roure
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Sobas
authors.forename: Laurent
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Perard
authors.forename: Flore
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: De Bats
authors.forename: Hélène
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Salord
authors.forename: Hélène Janin
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Manificat
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Denis
authors.forename: Carole
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Burillon
mesh_terms: D001082:Aqueous Humor / Q000382:microbiology*; D003199:Computer Systems; D015818:Eye Infections, Bacterial / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D015864:Panuveitis / Q000382:microbiology; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*; D012173:Retinitis / Q000382:microbiology; D013587:Syphilis / Q000175:diagnosis*; D014210:Treponema pallidum / Q000302:isolation & purification*