scholarly journals Single step polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for the diagnosis of the Leishmania (Viannia) subgenus

2004 ◽  
Vol 46 (6) ◽  
pp. 335-338 ◽  
Author(s):  
Byanca Regina Paiva ◽  
Luciana Neves Passos ◽  
Aloisio Falqueto ◽  
Rosely dos S. Malafronte ◽  
Heitor Franco de Andrade Jr.
Keyword(s):  
Polymerase Chain Reaction ◽  
Diagnostic Tool ◽  
Repetitive Sequences ◽  
Etiologic Agent ◽  
Single Step ◽  
Chain Reaction ◽  
Parasitological Diagnosis ◽  
Mucosal Involvement ◽  
Polymerase Chain ◽  
Step Polymerase Chain Reaction

In Brazil, the main etiologic agent of Leishmaniasis that frequently presents with mucosal involvement belongs to the Viannia subgenus. The therapeutic conduct in this disease depends on the parasitological diagnosis, and classical methods are restricted in identifying the agent. In this paper we describe a polymerase chain reaction (PCR), which uses primers designed from mini-exons repetitive sequences. The PCR amplifies a 177bp fragment that can distinguish (Viannia) from (Leishmania) subgenus. This test could be a useful diagnostic tool.

Questionable Role of Human Herpesviruses in the Pathogenesis of Kikuchi Disease

2007 ◽  
Vol 131 (4) ◽  
pp. 604-609 ◽  
Author(s):  
Min-Sun Cho ◽  
Hee Jung Choi ◽  
Hae Kyung Park ◽  
Sung Eun Cho ◽  
Woon Sup Han ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Polymerase Chain Reaction ◽  
Human Herpesvirus ◽  
Immunohistochemical Analysis ◽  
Etiologic Agent ◽  
Single Step ◽  
Causative Role ◽  
Chain Reaction ◽  
Nested Polymerase Chain Reaction ◽  
Polymerase Chain ◽  
Human Herpesviruses

Abstract Context.—Kikuchi disease is a self-limiting febrile lymphadenopathy characterized by a patchy area of apoptosis. Kikuchi disease is thought to be caused by a virus, but this has not been clearly demonstrated. Human herpesviruses 6 and 7 (HHV-6 and HHV-7) are lymphotropic viruses that can induce apoptosis in infected lymphocytes. Recently, HHV-8 was reported to be a possible etiologic agent of Kikuchi disease. Objective.—To investigate the incidence of HHV-6, HHV-7, and HHV-8 infection in patients with Kikuchi disease. Design.—Seventy archival tissue specimens (from 50 Kikuchi disease cases and 20 control cases) were tested for the presence of HHV-6 and HHV-7 using a nested polymerase chain reaction, and for the presence of HHV-8 using single-step polymerase chain reaction. Immunohistochemistry for HHV-8 expression was carried out in those cases in which HHV-8 was detected using polymerase chain reaction. Results.—Of the 50 cases with Kikuchi disease, 21 (42%) were HHV-6 positive and 32 (64%) were HHV-7 positive. Eight (40%) of the 20 control cases were HHV-6 positive and 9 (45%) were HHV-7 positive. Both HHV-6 and HHV-7 were detected in 15 (30%) of the cases with Kikuchi disease and in 3 (15%) of the control cases. Three (6%) of the 50 cases of Kikuchi disease were HHV-8 positive but revealed no positive cells on immunohistochemical analysis for HHV-8. Human herpesvirus 8 was not expressed in any of the control cases. Conclusions.—There was no association between the presence of HHV-6 or HHV-7 and Kikuchi disease. Because the HHV-8 genome but not protein was detected in a small proportion of the cases of Kikuchi disease, its potential causative role in this disease should be determined by further studies.

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