title: Detection of Clostridium tetani in human clinical samples using tetX specific primers targeting the neurotoxin.
abstract: Tetanus resulting from ear injury remains an important health problem, particularly in the developing world. We report the successful detection of Clostridium tetani using tetX specific primers targeting the Cl. tetani neurotoxin. The sample was obtained from an ear discharge of a case of otogenic tetanus in a 2-year-old male child. Based on the culture results of the ear discharge, Gram staining and virulence testing by genotyping, a diagnosis of tetanus was confirmed. This is the first report from India on the successful detection of Cl. tetani in a human clinical sample using tetX specific primers targeting the Cl. tetani neurotoxin.
authors.affiliation: Dr. VM Medical College, Solapur 413 001, India.
authors.forename: Madhu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ganesh
authors.affiliation: Dr. VM Medical College, Solapur 413 001, India.
authors.forename: Nasira K
authors.initials: NK
authors.lastname: Sheikh
authors.affiliation: Dr. VM Medical College, Solapur 413 001, India.
authors.forename: Pooja
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Shah
authors.affiliation: NCIM Resource Centre, CSIR - National Chemical Laboratory (NCL), Pune 411 008, Maharashtra, India.
authors.forename: Gajanan
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mehetre
authors.affiliation: NCIM Resource Centre, CSIR - National Chemical Laboratory (NCL), Pune 411 008, Maharashtra, India.
authors.forename: Mahesh S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Dharne
authors.affiliation: Maharashtra Institute of Medical Sciences & Research, Latur 413 531, Maharashtra, India. Electronic address: dr_bsnagoba@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Basavraj S
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Nagoba
mesh_terms: D001431:Bacteriological Techniques; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003017:Clostridium tetani / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000378:metabolism; D017931:DNA Primers / Q000235:genetics*; D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D004423:Ear / Q000293:injuries*; D015964:Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D008297:Male; D013742:Tetanus / Q000175:diagnosis*; D013744:Tetanus Toxin / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*
chemical_list: D017931:DNA Primers; D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D013744:Tetanus Toxin
keywords: Cl. tetani; Neurotoxin; Otogenic tetanus; Trismus