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The use of a polymerase chain reaction as a diagnostic test for Rocky Mountain spotted fever.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Sexton, DJ; Kanj, SS; Wilson, K; Corey, GR; Hegarty, BC; Levy, MG; Breitschwerdt, EB
Published in: Am J Trop Med Hyg
January 1994
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A polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for amplifying ribosomal DNA of Rickettsia rickettsii was performed on blood clots and urine samples from 10 patients with suspected Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF) and five controls with nonrickettsial diseases. The results of this PCR-based procedure were positive in four of the five patients with probable RMSF, but reamplification was required in three patients. Rickettsia rickettsii was grown from the blood of two of these four patients. The urine from one patient was also PCR-positive. These results confirm earlier findings that the PCR can detect R. rickettsii, but the need for reamplification indicates that the lack of sensitivity is a serious limitation in the usefulness of the PCR as a clinical diagnostic test.

Duke Scholars

Gordon Ralph Corey
Author Gordon Ralph Corey Medicine, Infectious Diseases
Daniel John Sexton
Author Daniel John Sexton Medicine, Infectious Diseases
Kenneth Heaton Wilson
Author Kenneth Heaton Wilson Medicine, Infectious Diseases

Published In

Am J Trop Med Hyg

ISSN

0002-9637

Publication Date

January 1994

Volume

50

Issue

1

Start / End Page

59 / 63

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Tropical Medicine
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever
  • Rickettsia rickettsii
  • RNA, Ribosomal, 16S
  • Prospective Studies
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Male
  • Humans
  • Female
 

Citation

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Sexton, D. J., Kanj, S. S., Wilson, K., Corey, G. R., Hegarty, B. C., Levy, M. G., & Breitschwerdt, E. B. (1994). The use of a polymerase chain reaction as a diagnostic test for Rocky Mountain spotted fever. Am J Trop Med Hyg, 50(1), 59–63.
Sexton, D. J., S. S. Kanj, K. Wilson, G. R. Corey, B. C. Hegarty, M. G. Levy, and E. B. Breitschwerdt. “The use of a polymerase chain reaction as a diagnostic test for Rocky Mountain spotted fever.” Am J Trop Med Hyg 50, no. 1 (January 1994): 59–63.
Sexton DJ, Kanj SS, Wilson K, Corey GR, Hegarty BC, Levy MG, et al. The use of a polymerase chain reaction as a diagnostic test for Rocky Mountain spotted fever. Am J Trop Med Hyg. 1994 Jan;50(1):59–63.
Sexton, D. J., et al. “The use of a polymerase chain reaction as a diagnostic test for Rocky Mountain spotted fever.” Am J Trop Med Hyg, vol. 50, no. 1, Jan. 1994, pp. 59–63.
Sexton DJ, Kanj SS, Wilson K, Corey GR, Hegarty BC, Levy MG, Breitschwerdt EB. The use of a polymerase chain reaction as a diagnostic test for Rocky Mountain spotted fever. Am J Trop Med Hyg. 1994 Jan;50(1):59–63.

Published In

Am J Trop Med Hyg

ISSN

0002-9637

Publication Date

January 1994

Volume

50

Issue

1

Start / End Page

59 / 63

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Tropical Medicine
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever
  • Rickettsia rickettsii
  • RNA, Ribosomal, 16S
  • Prospective Studies
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Male
  • Humans
  • Female