Cerebrospinal Fluid Polymerase Chain Reaction in the Diagnosis of Neonatal Bacterial Meningitis: A Single-Center Experience From Vietnam

Objective: To compare the performance of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with bacterial culture for the diagnosis of neonatal bacterial meningitis (NBM). Method: The CSF analysis of neonate with confirmed bacterial meningitis was performed with PCR and bacterial culture, and results were compared. Result: Among 24 neonates, the pathogens Identified included E. coli K1, GBS, Streptococcus pneumoniae and Listeria. PCR identified 20 (83.3%) pathogens, and culture 4 (16.7%) pathogens. Prior antibiotics were administered to 20 (83.3%) neonates in whom PCR identified 17 (85%) and culture 3 (15%) pathogens. Conclusion: CSF PCR had a higher yield of pathogens than CSF culture in confirmed neonatal bacterial meningitis with a high rate of prior antibiotic therapy.

Canine monocytic ehrlichiosis in Buenos Aires, Argentina: comparison of serological and molecular assays / Ehrlichiose monocítica canina em Buenos Aires: comparação de testes serológicos e moleculares

Canine monocytic ehrlichiosis (CME) is an infectious disease caused by the bacterium Ehrlichia canis and transmitted by Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato, a tick with worldwide distribution. When not diagnosed and treated early, disease can be severe. Currently, the disease is confirmed by serological or molecular assays. The objective of this study was to compare a serological assay based on immunochromatography (SPEED® EHRLI immunochromatographic test; BVT, France) and a molecular assay (a screening PCR followed by a nested PCR specific for E. canis) for the diagnosis of E. canis in suspected dogs from Buenos Aires city and southern Greater Buenos Aires, Argentina. Blood samples from 20 clinically healthy dogs (Control Group) and from 80 sick dogs suspected of having CME (Groups 1 to 4) were tested in parallel. Neither the immunochromatographic test nor the PCR assay was able to detect the presence of E. canis in the Control Group. In the group which had been previously tested by serology, the agreement between the tests was low (kappa: 0.200), whereas in the group which had been previously tested by PCR, the concordance between the tests was adequate (kappa: 0.650). The concordance between the tests evaluated in the total population studied was moderate (kappa: 0.496). The results of our study suggest that the use of rapid serological tests as a first approach, together with subsequent confirmation by PCR, will improve the diagnosis of CME.(AU)

A ehrlichiose monocítica canina (CME) é uma doença infecciosa transmitida pelo carrapato Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato com distribuição mundial causada por Ehrlichia canis, que pode produzir uma doença grave se não foi diagnosticada e tratada precocemente. A confirmação da doença é feita diretamente pela detecção do DNA fazendo a reação em cadeia da polimerase (PCR) ou indiretamente por métodos sorológicos. O objetivo deste estudo foi comparar o método sorológico baseado na imunocromatografia e a técnica de PCR para o diagnóstico de E. canis em cães suspeitos da Cidade de Buenos Aires e da região sul da Grande Buenos Aires. As amostras de sangue de 20 cães clinicamente saudáveis (Grupo Controle) e de 80 cães com suspeita clínica de CME (Grupo 1-4) foram avaliadas em paralelo. O diagnóstico serológico foi feito pelo teste imunocromatográfico SPEED® EHRLI (BVT, França). Para a detecção molecular, foi utilizada uma PCR de triagem para amplificar um fragmento de 345 pb do gene que codifica a subunidade 16S do rRNA da família Anaplasmataceae. As amostras positivas depois foram processadas pela PCR aninhada específica para E. canis. No Grupo Controle, a presença de E. canis não foi detectada por PCR ou anticorpos específicos com o teste imunocromatográfico. No grupo em que a sorologia foi solicitada inicialmente (1 e 2), a concordância entre os testes foi baixo (kappa: 0,200) enquanto que no grupo onde o teste inicialmente solicitado foi a PCR, a concordância entre os testes era adequado (kappa: 0,650). A concordância entre os testes avaliados na população total estudada foi moderada (kappa: 0,496). Em conclusão, os resultados do nosso estudo sugerem que o uso de testes serológicos rápidos inicialmente, juntamente com a confirmação subsequente por PCR, permitirá melhorar o diagnóstico de CME.(AU)

The analysis of identification for non-tuberculous Mycobacterium with molecular assay genotype Mvcobacterium kit / 中华微生物学和免疫学杂志

Objective To identify non-tuberculous Mycobacterium(NTM) rapidly with HAIN molecular assay genotype Mycobacterium kit,and investigate the advantages and disadvantages of this method.Methods Seventy-four clinical NTM isolates were collected from hospitals in Zhejiang and Anhui province.Clinical strains were identified with HAIN molecular assay genotype Mycobacterium kit.16S rRNA gene sequencing was used to estimate and compare with this method.Results The results of kit showed that there were thirty-one M.intracellulare strains,twelve M.chelonae strains,eight M.fortuitum strains,six M.kansasii strains,five M.avium strains,three M.smegmatis strains,two M.phlei strains,two M.scrofulaceum strains and one M.gordon strain.Four strains were identified as Mycobacterium without further identification.Eight M.tuberculosis strains were identified correctly too.Compared with 16S rRNA gene sequencing,except for four strains identified as Mycobacterium,others 70 strains got the same results as 16S rRNA gene sequencing,the coincidence was 94.59％,and it could further identify thirteen Mycobacterium chelonae complex and eight Mycobacterium kansasii complex to subspecies M.abscessus and M.kansasii,respectively.If only to identify strains under the identification range of this kit,the coincidence reach to 100％,Conclusion The method of HAIN molecular assay genotype Mycobacterium kit is simple and accurate,the time is shorter and should widely be applied clinically.