Simultaneous molecular detection of Neisseria Meningitidis and Haemophilus Influenzae

ABSTRACT

Bacterial meningitis is a dangerous and sometimes fatal infection that affects the central nervous system. Because some antibiotics can prevent some types of these Bacteria and suppress them from spreading and infecting, therefore it is important to know what type of virus or bacterium is causing meningitis. Haemophilus influenzae and Neisseria meningitides are the two main pathogens causing acute bacterial meningitis. Different methods are used for the detection of H. influenzae and N. meningitidis but they are of low sensitivity, taking long time and difficult to perform . Therefore, complementary methods are necessary for more sensitive detection of these agents. In this study, a muliplex polymerase chain reation [mPCR] assay was developed for detection of H. influenzae and N. meningitidis. These strains were confirmed by biochemical methods. Two specific primer pairs were designed for lic-1 and opa genes of H. influenzae and N. meningitidis respectively. DNA amplification product fragments were 150 bp and 320 bp for H. influenzae and N. meningitidis, respectively. Streptococcus pneumoniae used as a negative control and did not yield a PCR product. The result of this study indicated that PCR is a useful complementary diagnostic technique, especially when Gram stain, culture, or antigenic detection is negative or inconclusive