Assessment of a Sensitive qPCR Assay Targeting a Multiple-Copy Gene to Detect Orientia tsutsugamushi DNA.

ABSTRACT: Scrub typhus is caused by an obligated intracellular organism, Orientia tsutsugamushi (Orientia). The disease was traditionally thought to be limited in the tsutsugamushi triangle. Recently, scrub typhus has been confirmed in areas outside the triangle. Serological diagnosis of scrub typhus relies on indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA). Molecular assays such as PCR, qPCR, loop-mediated isothermal amplification, and recombinase polymerase amplification are often targeting a single copy gene. These assays are sensitive and specific, yet they are not broadly used in clinical settings possibly due to low circulating Orientia in blood. In this study, we compared qPCR results using a multiple copy (traD) gene with those using a single copy (47 kDa) gene to assess the improvement of sensitivi

SUBMITTER: Chao CC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6789807 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature