Detection, differentiation, and quantitation of pathogenic leishmania organisms by a fluorescence resonance energy transfer-based real-time PCR assay.

ABSTRACT: Real-time technology eliminates many of the pitfalls of diagnostic PCR, but this method has not been applied to differentiation of Leishmania organisms so far. We have developed a real-time PCR that simultaneously detects, quantitates, and categorizes Leishmania organisms into three relevant groups causing distinct clinical pictures. The analytical sensitivity (detection rate of >or=95% at 94.1 parasites/ml of blood) was within a range that has been determined previously to facilitate the confirmation of visceral leishmaniasis from peripheral blood. Parasites were successfully detected in 12 different clinical samples (blood, bone marrow, skin, and liver). The Leishmania donovani complex, the Leishmania brasiliensis complex, and species other than these could be clearly discriminated by me

SUBMITTER: Schulz A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC153923 | biostudies-literature | 2003 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature