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Real‐Time PCR Duplex Assay for Rickettsia prowazekii and Borrelia recurrentis
Author(s) -
JIANG J.U.,
TEMENAK JOSEPH J.,
RICHARDS ALLEN L.
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
annals of the new york academy of sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.712
H-Index - 248
eISSN - 1749-6632
pISSN - 0077-8923
DOI - 10.1111/j.1749-6632.2003.tb07380.x
Subject(s) - rickettsia prowazekii , virology , microbiology and biotechnology , biology , relapsing fever , bartonella , typhus , rickettsia , virus
A bstract :Rickettsia prowazekii , the etiologic agent for epidemic typhus, and Borrelia recurrentis , the etiologic agent of relapsing fever, both utilize the same vector, the human body louse ( Pediculus humanus ), to transmit human disease. We have developed an assay to detect both bacterial pathogens in a single tube utilizing real‐time PCR. Assays for both agents are specific. The R. prowazekii and B. recurrentis assays do not detect nucleic acid from R. typhi, R. canada , or any of eight spotted fever rickettsiae. In addition they did not react with Neorickettsia risticii, N. sennetsu, Franciscella persica, Bartonella quintana, Legionella pneumophila, Proteus mirabilis, Salmonella enterica, Escherichia coli , and Staphylococcus aureus . Moreover, the B. recurrentis assay did not detect B. duttonii, B. coriaceae, B. afzelii, B. garinii, B. hermsii , or B. burgdorferi nucleic acid. Both assays detected repeatedly only R. prowazekii or B. recurrentis either when tested alone or together in one test tube.