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Improvement in early diagnosis of Japanese spotted fever by using a novel Rick PCR system
Author(s) -
Kondo Makoto,
Akachi Shigehiro,
Kawano Mitsuo,
Yamanaka Keiichi,
Yamagiwa Akisa,
Gabazza Esteban C.,
Ando Katsuhiko,
Mizutani Hitoshi
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
the journal of dermatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.9
H-Index - 65
eISSN - 1346-8138
pISSN - 0385-2407
DOI - 10.1111/1346-8138.13015
Subject(s) - polymerase chain reaction , serology , medicine , disseminated intravascular coagulation , genetic diagnosis , spotted fever , nested polymerase chain reaction , virology , real time polymerase chain reaction , rickettsia , immunology , biology , pathology , virus , gene , antibody , biochemistry
Rickettsia diseases, including Japanese spotted fever ( JSF ), are serious infections. Delayed diagnosis occasionally results in life‐threatening liver disorders and disseminated intravascular coagulation ( DIC ). Because of the shortness of the latent period, serological diagnosis is not preferable for early diagnosis of JSF . Until now, a polymerase chain reaction ( PCR )‐based diagnosis method has been used for early diagnosis, and the sensitivity reaches as high as 90% using skin biopsy samples as we previously reported. On the other hand, the sensitivity of the same PCR method using blood samples is limited at less than 50%. In the present study, using peripheral blood samples, we developed a novel diagnostic method for JSF using a Rick PCR system with original PCR primers, showing improved sensitivity compared with the conventional nested PCR . It may constitute a preferable diagnostic tool for early and sensitive diagnosis of Rickettsia infection.