Bartonella DNA detection by PCR

General Information

Lab Name

Bartonella DNA detection by PCR

Lab Code

BRTDNA

Epic Name

Bartonella DNA detection by PCR

Description

Detection and differentiation of Bartonella henselae and Bartonella quintana DNA

Bacteria of the genus Bartonella are fastidious, gram-negative, slow-growing microorganisms. Eight species of the genus Bartonella are currently recognized as pathogenic agents in human diseases. Clinical syndromes include trench fever, Carrion’s disease, bacillary angiomatosis, bacillary peliosis, endocarditis, cat scratch disease, neuroretinitis, and asymptomatic bacteremia. The two species most often encountered in human infection are B. henselae and B. quintana. B. henselae is considered the causative agent of cat scratch disease, which is characterized by lymphadenopathy preceded by an erythematous papule at the inoculation site. 30% of patients have low-grade fever and malaise. Infection with B. henselae can range from lymphadenopathy to systemic disease, and the severity and presentation are often related to immune status. Immunocompromised patients often present with systemic disease. B. quintana is the causative agent of trench fever, typically characterized by a sudden onset of prolonged chills and fever. B. henselae and B. quintana are both causative agents of cutaneous bacillary angiomatosis, which is the most common clinical manifestation in immunocompromised patients but can also occur in immunocompotent patients. It is characterized by various presentations of cutaneous or subcutaneous vascular lesions, lymphadenopathy, and often, abdominal symptoms. Lesions may be located anywhere on the body and may be clinically and histologically similar to Kaposi’s sarcoma (Mandell GL, et al, 2004).

Sequencing of specific gene(s) provides a rapid and accurate identification of clinically significant organism. Judicious primer selection allows amplification of sequences at the species level or at the phylogenetic level. Raw sequences are assembled then classified by comparison to public sequence databases and the UWMC Clinical Microbiology Sequence Database in order to provide organism identification.

16S rRNA gene sequencing is considered by current taxonomists to be the gold standard in bacterial identification and classification. It contains conserved regions useful for the design of universal primers that amplify the gene from all pathogenic and nonpathogenic bacteria in addition to hypervariable regions that contain species-specific signature sequences useful for bacterial identification to species level.

The biosynthesis pathway for riboflavin (vitamin B2) is present in bacteria and plants but is absent in vertebrates. Riboflavin synthetase, encoded by ribC, is highly conserved at the species level. Primer oligonucleotides designed on the basis of localized differences within the ribC DNA region are used in species-specific assays for the differentiation of B. henselae and B. quintana, the two most commonly isolated Bartonella species. This assay, in addition to 16S rRNA gene increases the diagnostic potential to detect and differentiate Bartonella species.

Forms & Requisitions

Molecular Microbiology Order Form

Synonyms

16S PCR, 16S sequencing, Bartonella 16S, Bartonella henselae, Bartonella identification, Bartonella PCR, Bartonella quintana, Bartonella ribC, Bartonella sequencing, Cat Scratch, molecular Bartonella, ribC PCR, ribC sequencing, Trench Fever, universal PCR

Components

Code	Name
BRTSUM	Bartonella PCR: Summary
BR16RS	Bartonella PCR: Detection, 16S rDNA
BR16ID	Bartonella PCR: Identification, 16S rDNA
BRRCRS	Bartonella PCR: Detection, ribC
BRRCID	Bartonella PCR: Identification, ribC
BRTSI	Bartonella PCR: Specimen Description
BRTSPI	Bartonella PCR: External Identifier
BRTSR	Bartonella PCR: Special Requests
BRTSC	Bartonella PCR: Specimen Comments
BRTNAE	Bartonella PCR: Specimen DNA Extraction
BRTREV	Bartonella PCR: Pathologist Review
BRTME	Bartonella PCR: Method Note