Multiplex 5 ' Nuclease-Quantitative PCR for Diagnosis of Relapsing Fever in a Large Tanzanian Cohort

作者：Reller Megan E^*; Clemens Emily G; Schachterle Steve E; Mtove George A; Sullivan David J; Dumler J Stephen

来源：Journal of Clinical Microbiology, 2011, 49(9): 3245-3249.

DOI：10.1128/JCM.00940-11

Relapsing fever (RF) is caused by tick-and louse-borne Borrelia spp., is characterized by recurrent fever, and is often misdiagnosed as malaria. Because of submicroscopic bacteremia, microscopy can be insensitive between febrile bouts. We designed a multiplex quantitative PCR (qPCR) assay to distinguish RF Borrelia from Plasmodium falciparum and P. vivax. The assay specifically (100%) amplified pathogenic RF Borrelia (1 copy/reaction). We then tested blood from participants within a Tanzanian cohort assessed at scheduled intervals and with fever. Among 8,617 blood samples from 2,057 participants surveyed routinely, 7 (0.08%) samples and 7 (0.3%) participants had RF DNA (median, 4.4 x 10(3) copies/ml). Of 382 samples from 310 febrile persons, 15 (3.9%) samples from 13 (4.2%) participants had RF DNA (median, 7.9 x 10(2) copies/ml). Five (1.3%) samples from 4 (1.3%) participants were found to harbor Borrelia by microscopy. We conclude that multiplex qPCR holds promise for improved clinical diagnosis and epidemiologic assessment of RF.

• 出版日期2011-9
• 单位河北医科大学