title: Detection of bacterial DNA by PCR in dogs with stifle pathology.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine presence of bacterial DNA in canine stifles with cranial cruciate ligament rupture (CCLR) and medial patellar luxation (MPL) compared to normal canine stifles (control).
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective clinical study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Dogs (n = 44).
  
  
  METHODS
  Dogs of varying age, breed, sex, and weight residing in California were assessed for stifle pathology (CCLR, MPL, or normal control). Synovial fluid of all stifles was assessed for the presence of bacterial DNA using broad-ranging 16S rRNA primers and PCR.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Bacterial DNA was detected in normal control stifles and those with CCLR and MPL. There were no statistical differences in the copy numbers of bacterial DNA in the stifle synovial fluid among groups (P > .05); however, synovial fluid specimens from dogs with stifle pathology (CCLR and MPL combined) tended to have higher copy numbers of bacterial DNA than those from controls (P = .06). There was no significant difference in the number of bacterial DNA between the CCLR and MPL groups (P = .57). The copy numbers of bacterial DNA had a weak positive significant correlation with the duration of lameness in CCLR group (P < .05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Increased detection of bacterial DNA in the stifle synovial fluid may indicate joint pathology but not be directly linked to a specific joint disease.
authors.affiliation: JD Wheat Veterinary Orthopedic Research Laboratory, University of California Davis, Davis, CA.
authors.forename: Jitender
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bhandal
authors.forename: Kei
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hayashi
authors.forename: Sun-Young
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Martha
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Klein
authors.forename: Alice
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.forename: Chrisoula A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Toupadakis
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Muir
authors.forename: Clare E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Yellowley
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016118:Anterior Cruciate Ligament / Q000473:pathology; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000175:diagnosis*; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D007592:Joint Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D008297:Male; D031222:Patellar Dislocation / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary*; D013264:Stifle / Q000473:pathology*; D013582:Synovial Fluid / Q000382:microbiology*
chemical_list: D004269:DNA, Bacterial