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Diagnosis of Yersinia pseudotuberculosis infection by polymerase chain reaction
H I Cheong1, H W Park, J W Koo
1Department of Pediatrics, Seoul National University Children's Hospital, ChongRo-Gu, Seoul, Korea.
Background:
The diagnosis of Yersinia pseudotuberculosis infection is usually based on serologic and/or bacteriologic tests. However, successfully culturing Y. pseudotuberculosis is difficult, and serologic tests in many cases require at least two serial sera obtained during 1-week intervals to confirm rising agglutination antibody titers.
Methods:
We applied a nested polymerase chain reaction method for rapid diagnosis of Y. pseudotuberculosis infection. The DNAs extracted from the peripheral blood and urine of patients and from mountain water, a suspected source of infection, were used as templates for the polymerase chain reaction with consequent amplification of a fragment of the inv gene in the chromosomal DNA of Y. pseudotuberculosis.
Results:
The overall rate of diagnosis with the polymerase chain reaction, which was based on a positive result with a single blood sample or one or more positive results with serial samples, was 93.3%. The polymerase chain reaction was also positive in two mountain water samples that were thought to be a source of infection.
Conclusion:
Based on our results the nested polymerase chain reaction method can be used clinically for rapid and precise diagnosis of Y. pseudotuberculosis infection.