Lamps Laura W, Havens Jennifer M, Sjostedt Anders, Page David L, Scott Margie A
Department of Pathology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR 72205, USA.
Mod Pathol. 2004 May;17(5):489-95. doi: 10.1038/modpathol.3800087.
Francisella tularensis (FT), a zoonotic bacterium that causes tularemia, has received attention as a possible bioterrorism threat. We developed a PCR assay for use in fixed, processed tissues, which are safer to handle and allow archival testing. PCR analysis for a 211-bp fragment of the FT lipoprotein gene was performed on tissues from 16 cases of tularemia. In all, 14/15 cases with intact DNA (93%) were positive for FT by PCR. Frequent histologic findings in PCR-positive tissues included irregular microabscesses and granulomas in liver, spleen, kidney, and lymph nodes, and necrotizing pneumonia. Unusual cases featuring suppurative leptomeningitis and gastrointestinal ulcers were also seen. As this disease is endemic in North America, and has been identified as a potential bioterroristic threat, awareness of the clinicopathologic spectrum of disease and available detection methods is increasingly important. This PCR assay, the first designed for use in processed tissues, is an excellent method for diagnosis of tularemia.
土拉弗朗西斯菌（FT）是一种可导致兔热病的人畜共患细菌，因其可能构成生物恐怖主义威胁而受到关注。我们开发了一种用于固定、处理过的组织的PCR检测方法，这种组织更易于处理且可进行存档检测。对16例兔热病病例的组织进行了FT脂蛋白基因211bp片段的PCR分析。总体而言，15例DNA完整的病例中有14例（93%）通过PCR检测FT呈阳性。PCR阳性组织中常见的组织学表现包括肝脏、脾脏、肾脏和淋巴结中的不规则微脓肿和肉芽肿，以及坏死性肺炎。还发现了以化脓性软脑膜炎和胃肠道溃疡为特征的罕见病例。由于这种疾病在北美为地方性疾病，且已被确定为潜在的生物恐怖主义威胁，了解该疾病的临床病理谱和可用的检测方法变得越来越重要。这种PCR检测方法是首个设计用于处理过的组织的方法，是诊断兔热病的一种优秀方法。
