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Volume 17, Number 1—January 2011
Dispatch

Identification of Rickettsial Infections by Using Cutaneous Swab Specimens and PCR

Yassina Bechah, Cristina Socolovschi, and Didier RaoultComments to Author 
Author affiliations: Author affiliation: Université de la Méditerranée, Marseille, France

Main Article

Table

Molecular results for 9 patients with rickettsioses for identification of Rickettsia spp., Marseille, France*

Patient no. Swab no. Skin swab specimens, Ct
Biopsy specimens, Ct
Final diagnosis
Actin Conserved sequence† Specific sequence‡ Actin Conserved sequence† Specific sequence‡
1
1
22.27
33.91
36.63

19.39
29.03
32.52
R. conorii
2
1
29.73
Neg
Neg

21.21
29.32
33.29
R. conorii
3
1
22.32
30.99
Neg

18.89
28.72
Neg
R. sibirica mongolitimonae
4
1
24.48
35.21
34.15

22.92
31.92
26.66
R. africae
5
1
31.13
34.67
Neg

20.68
33.66
31.9
R. africae

1
35.49
35.29
Neg




R. slovaca

1
24.78
30.63
ND




R. sibirica mongolitimonae
1 24.19 Neg Neg R. conorii
1 23.36 Neg Neg
1 21.94 37.97 Neg

1
35.50
Neg
Neg





9§¶ 1 32.50 Neg Neg R. australis
1 32.05 Neg Neg
1 30.95 Pos Neg
1 24.99 Neg Neg
1 29.21 Neg Neg
1 31.78 Neg Neg
1 35.83 Neg Neg
1 24.98 Pos Pos
1 35.5 Neg Pos
1 36.96 Neg Neg
1 32.21 Neg Neg

*Ct, cycle threshold; neg, negative; –, not applicable; ND, not done; pos, positive.
†Rickettsial DNA was identified by using a fragment of the citrate synthase A gene that is conserved among all spotted fever group rickettsiae.
‡Specific quantitative PCR was performed on the basis of epidemiologic data and tick bite history of each patient.
§No cutaneous biopsy samples were available.
¶Results for patient 9 correspond to results of re-amplification of products of the first PCRs.

*Ct, cycle threshold; neg, negative; –, not applicable; ND, not done; pos, positive.
†Rickettsial DNA was identified by using a fragment of the citrate synthase A gene that is conserved among all spotted fever group rickettsiae.
‡Specific quantitative PCR was performed on the basis of epidemiologic data and tick bite history of each patient.
§No cutaneous biopsy samples were available.
¶Results for patient 9 correspond to results of re-amplification of products of the first PCRs.

Main Article

Page created: July 08, 2011
Page updated: July 08, 2011
Page reviewed: July 08, 2011
The conclusions, findings, and opinions expressed by authors contributing to this journal do not necessarily reflect the official position of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Public Health Service, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or the authors' affiliated institutions. Use of trade names is for identification only and does not imply endorsement by any of the groups named above.
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