title: Comparison of TaqMan PCR assays for detection of the melioidosis agent Burkholderia pseudomallei in clinical specimens.
abstract: Melioidosis is an emerging infectious disease caused by the soil bacterium Burkholderia pseudomallei. In diagnostic and forensic settings, molecular detection assays need not only high sensitivity with low limits of detection but also high specificity. In a direct comparison of published and newly developed TaqMan PCR assays, we found the TTS1-orf2 assay to be superior in detecting B. pseudomallei directly from clinical specimens. The YLF/BTFC multiplex assay (targeting the Yersinia-like fimbrial/Burkholderia thailandensis-like flagellum and chemotaxis region) also showed high diagnostic sensitivity and provides additional information on possible geographic origin.
authors.affiliation: Global and Tropical Health Division, Menzies School of Health Research, Charles Darwin University, Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia. mirjam.kaestli@menzies.edu.au
authors.forename: Mirjam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kaestli
authors.forename: Leisha J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Richardson
authors.forename: Rebecca E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Colman
authors.forename: Apichai
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tuanyok
authors.forename: Erin P
authors.initials: EP
authors.lastname: Price
authors.forename: Jolene R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Bowers
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mayo
authors.forename: Erin
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kelley
authors.forename: Meagan L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Seymour
authors.forename: Derek S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Sarovich
authors.forename: Talima
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Pearson
authors.forename: David M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Engelthaler
authors.forename: David M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Wagner
authors.forename: Paul S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Keim
authors.forename: James M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Schupp
authors.forename: Bart J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Currie
mesh_terms: D001431:Bacteriological Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D016957:Burkholderia pseudomallei / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D008554:Melioidosis / Q000175:diagnosis*; D025202:Molecular Diagnostic Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity