Background/methods: We compared the diagnostic yield of a real time polymeras e chain reaction (PCR) assay in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples with conventio nal microbiological techniques for the diagnosis of neurob...Background/methods: We compared the diagnostic yield of a real time polymeras e chain reaction (PCR) assay in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples with conventio nal microbiological techniques for the diagnosis of neurobrucellosis. Following amplification of a 223 bp sequence specific for Brucella genus, melting curve an alysis was performed to verify the specificity of the PCR products. Results: All six patients with neurobrucellosis (three meningitis and three meningoencephali tis) had a positive real time PCR assay, whereas CSF cultures and Wright seroagg lutination tests were positive in only two and four cases, respectively. Brucell a specific amplicons were easily demonstrated by their characteristic melting te mperature in all the real time PCR assays. Conclusion: LightCycler based real ti me PCR assay in CSF samples is more rapid and sensitive than conventional microb iological tests. This technique could be useful for the rapid diagnosis of neuro brucellosis.展开更多
文摘Background/methods: We compared the diagnostic yield of a real time polymeras e chain reaction (PCR) assay in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples with conventio nal microbiological techniques for the diagnosis of neurobrucellosis. Following amplification of a 223 bp sequence specific for Brucella genus, melting curve an alysis was performed to verify the specificity of the PCR products. Results: All six patients with neurobrucellosis (three meningitis and three meningoencephali tis) had a positive real time PCR assay, whereas CSF cultures and Wright seroagg lutination tests were positive in only two and four cases, respectively. Brucell a specific amplicons were easily demonstrated by their characteristic melting te mperature in all the real time PCR assays. Conclusion: LightCycler based real ti me PCR assay in CSF samples is more rapid and sensitive than conventional microb iological tests. This technique could be useful for the rapid diagnosis of neuro brucellosis.