Goldenberger D, Zbinden R, Perschil I, Altwegg M
Institut für Medizinische Mikrobiologie der Universität Zürich.
Schweiz Med Wochenschr. 1996 Feb 10;126(6):207-13.
Bartonella (Rochalimaea) henselae and/or B. quintana are the causative agents of a variety of infections such as trench fever, bacillary angiomatosis, septicemia, peliosis hepatis and endocarditis. Recently, B. henselae has been identified as a major cause of cat scratch disease. Diagnosis of such infections is based on clinical information, histopathology, culture and serology. However, none of these methods alone is sufficiently sensitive or specific. We have used the PCR to search for DNA specific for B. henselae/B. quintana in 33 clinical samples and in 6 controls. In comparison with clinical data and histopathology, PCR was extremely specific (100%) and reasonably sensitive (61%). Possible explanations for the limited sensitivity of PCR are discussed. We conclude that PCR provides a useful adjunct for the diagnosis of infections caused by B. henselae and B. quintana.
汉赛巴尔通体（罗卡利马体）和/或五日热巴尔通体是多种感染的病原体，如战壕热、杆菌性血管瘤病、败血症、肝紫癜和心内膜炎。最近，汉赛巴尔通体已被确定为猫抓病的主要病因。此类感染的诊断基于临床信息、组织病理学、培养和血清学。然而，这些方法单独使用时，没有一种具有足够的敏感性或特异性。我们使用聚合酶链反应（PCR）在33份临床样本和6份对照中寻找汉赛巴尔通体/五日热巴尔通体特异性DNA。与临床数据和组织病理学相比，PCR具有极高的特异性（100%）和合理的敏感性（61%）。文中讨论了PCR敏感性有限的可能原因。我们得出结论，PCR为诊断由汉赛巴尔通体和五日热巴尔通体引起的感染提供了一种有用的辅助手段。
