title: [Detection and identification of highly pathogenic bacteria within the framework of the EQADeBa project--Part II: samples containing inactivated pathogens].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the studies was analysis of methods applied and results of detection and identification of Bacillus anthracis, Yersinia pestis, Francisella tularensis, Brucella sp., Bulkholderia mallei and B. pseudomallei in inactivated samples obtained within the framework of the third external quality assessment exercise (EQAE) in the project ,,Establishment of Quality Assurances for Detection of Highly Pathogenic Bacteria of Potential Bioterrorism Risk (EQADeBa)".
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifteen samples in the form of water, calf serum and milk spiked with bacteria mentioned above were investigated. Detection and identification of highly pathogenic bacteria were carried out using a PCR technique. RESULTS. Y. pestis, F. tularensis ssp. holarctica, B. anthracis, B. mallei and B. pseudomallei were detected in the investigated samples. The most problematic were samples of milk, probably because of presence of PCR inhibitors such as milk proteins and calcium ions and a low number of bacterial cells contained in the samples. CONCLUSIONS. Inactivation of samples spiked with highly pathogenic microorganisms ensure safety of labora- tory workers, but investigation of such samples needs very precise selection and validation diagnostics methods due to possibility of obtaining false negative results. Results of the third international external quality assessment exercise have confirmed competences of laboratory of Department of Bacteriology NIZP-PZH in the area of detection and identification highly pathogenic bacteria covered by the EQAE.
authors.affiliation: Zakład Bakteriologii Narodowego Instytutu Zdrowia Publicznego--Państwowego Zakładu Higieny w Warszawie. azasada@pzh.gov.pl
authors.forename: Aleksandra A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Zasada
authors.forename: Rafał
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gierczyński
authors.forename: Magdalena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rzeczkowska
authors.forename: Kamila
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Formińska
authors.forename: Katarzyna
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Zacharczuk
authors.forename: Waldemar
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Rastawicki
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001408:Bacillus anthracis / Q000302:isolation & purification; D023482:Bioterrorism; D002002:Brucella / Q000302:isolation & purification; D042726:Burkholderia mallei / Q000302:isolation & purification; D016957:Burkholderia pseudomallei / Q000302:isolation & purification; D002417:Cattle; D005604:Francisella tularensis / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006090:Gram-Negative Bacteria / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D006094:Gram-Positive Bacteria / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D050296:Microbial Viability; D008892:Milk / Q000382:microbiology*; D044967:Serum / Q000382:microbiology*; D014774:Virulence; D014871:Water Microbiology; D015010:Yersinia pestis / Q000302:isolation & purification