Open AccessPolymerase chain reaction for the detection of Bordetella pertussis in clinical nasopharyngeal aspirates
Author(s) -
Paola Mastrantonio,
Paola Stefanelli,
Marina Giuliano
Publication year - 1996
Publication title -
journal of medical microbiology/journal of medical microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.91
H-Index - 117
eISSN - 1473-5644
pISSN - 0022-2615
DOI - 10.1099/00222615-44-4-261
Subject(s) - bordetella pertussis , polymerase chain reaction , bordetella , microbiology and biotechnology , pertussis toxin , biology , whooping cough , microbiological culture , real time polymerase chain reaction , virology , medicine , bacteria , immunology , gene , receptor , vaccination , genetics , g protein
A PCR procedure for the detection of Bordetella pertussis in nasopharyngeal aspirates (NPAs) was developed with primers derived from the pertussis toxin promoter region. The amplification resulted in a 191-bp PCR product specific for B. pertussis. A total of 681 NPAs collected from children with cough lasting >7 days was evaluated by PCR and culture; 104 aspirates were positive by PCR and 93 by culture. Sixteen cases were positive only by PCR and five culture positive aspirates were negative by PCR. An internal control was included in the assay to monitor the performance of the PCR and to identify possible inhibitory components in clinical samples. The PCR method was more efficient than culture in detecting B. pertussis in samples collected late in the disease, in antibiotic-treated children and in patients with mild disease.