Rapid Laboratory Diagnosis of Ulceroglandular Tularemia with Polymerase Chain Reaction

Karhukorpi, Eeva-Kaisa; Karhukorpi, Jari

doi:10.1080/003655401750174101

Cited by 22 publications

(11 citation statements)

References 4 publications

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“…Although previous studies have demonstrated the utility of PCR assays in analyzing blood samples, swabs from ulcerative lesions, and pus for the presence of FT DNA, 8,10,11,14,[17][18][19][20][21] we describe the first PCR assay designed for use in formalin fixed, routinely processed, archival tissues. Our findings indicate that PCR of processed tissues is a safe, rapid, sensitive, and specific method for the detection of FT in both human and animal tissues.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Histologic and molecular diagnosis of tularemia: a potential bioterrorism agent endemic to North America

et al. 2004

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…10,14,[17][18][19][20][21] Our goal was to develop a PCR assay that could be used in formalin-fixed, routinely processed tissues, which are (1) safer to handle and (2) allow diagnostic testing even after fixation and processing. We then compared the clinical and pathologic findings with the molecular data.…”

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confidence: 99%

Histologic and molecular diagnosis of tularemia: a potential bioterrorism agent endemic to North America

et al. 2004

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“…Subsequently, a number of other workers have reported the use of PCR assays for the diagnosis of tularemia (34,93) or for the analysis of environmental samples (16). These PCR-based tests might also be safer than tests which involve the culture of bacteria (162).…”

Section: Detection and Diagnosismentioning

confidence: 99%

Tularemia

et al. 2002

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Francisella tularensis is the etiological agent of tularemia, a serious and occasionally fatal disease of humans and animals. In humans, ulceroglandular tularemia is the most common form of the disease and is usually a consequence of a bite from an arthropod vector which has previously fed on an infected animal. The pneumonic form of the disease occurs rarely but is the likely form of the disease should this bacterium be used as a bioterrorism agent. The diagnosis of disease is not straightforward. F. tularensis is difficult to culture, and the handling of this bacterium poses a significant risk of infection to laboratory personnel. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay- and PCR-based methods have been used to detect bacteria in clinical samples, but these methods have not been adequately evaluated for the diagnosis of pneumonic tularemia. Little is known about the virulence mechanisms of F. tularensis, though there is a large body of evidence indicating that it is an intracellular pathogen, surviving mainly in macrophages. An unlicensed live attenuated vaccine is available, which does appear to offer protection against ulceroglandular and pneumonic tularemia. Although an improved vaccine against tularemia is highly desirable, attempts to devise such a vaccine have been limited by the inability to construct defined allelic replacement mutants and by the lack of information on the mechanisms of virulence of F. tularensis. In the absence of a licensed vaccine, aminoglycoside antibiotics play a key role in the prevention and treatment of tularemia

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“…Detection of F. tularensis in clinical specimens may also be achieved by using fluorescencelabeled antibodies. PCR-based methods have been proposed for use in the detection of F. tularensis DNA in human skin lesions or in the blood of experimentally infected mice (18,21). These procedures permit a more rapid diagnosis but are usually performed in reference laboratories.…”

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confidence: 99%