Posthaus H, Welle M, Mörner T, Nicolet J, Kuhnert P
Institute of Animal Pathology, University of Bern, Switzerland.
Vet Microbiol. 1998 Mar 15;61(1-2):145-50. doi: 10.1016/s0378-1135(98)00180-1.
We report a case of tularemia in a common marmoset (Callithrix jacchus) diagnosed by determination of the isolate's 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene sequence. Pathological examination of the animal revealed a multifocal acute necrotizing hepatitis, interstitial nephritis, splenitis, and lymphangitis of the mandibular, retropharyngeal, and cervical and mesenteric lymph nodes. Moreover, multiple foci of acute necrosis were found in the epithelium of the jejunum and the interstitium of the lung. Bacteriological investigations revealed a septicemia. The isolated infectious agent was uncommon, not routinely diagnosed in our laboratory and therefore difficult to identify by conventional tools in a reasonable time and effort. thus, we decided to perform a genetic analysis based on the 16S rRNA gene sequence. Thereby, an infection with Francisella tularensis, the causative agent of tularemia, was unambiguously diagnosed. This shows the great advantage 16S rRNA gene sequencing has as a general identification approach for unusual or rare isolates.
我们报告了一例普通狨猴（Callithrix jacchus）患土拉菌病的病例，该病例通过测定分离株的16S核糖体RNA（rRNA）基因序列得以确诊。对该动物进行的病理检查显示，存在多灶性急性坏死性肝炎、间质性肾炎、脾炎以及下颌、咽后、颈部和肠系膜淋巴结的淋巴管炎。此外，在空肠上皮和肺间质中发现了多个急性坏死灶。细菌学调查显示存在败血症。分离出的感染病原体并不常见，在我们实验室非常规诊断，因此难以通过传统工具在合理时间内和付出合理努力的情况下进行鉴定。因此，我们决定基于16S rRNA基因序列进行基因分析。由此，明确诊断出感染了土拉菌病的病原体土拉弗朗西斯菌。这显示了16S rRNA基因测序作为一种用于鉴定不寻常或罕见分离株的通用鉴定方法所具有的巨大优势。
