Rapid laboratory diagnosis of ulceroglandular tularemia with polymerase chain reaction.

Abstract

Tularemia is a zoonotic disease which, in Scandinavia, is usually acquired through a mosquito bite. As the infecting organism, Francisella tularensis, is highly virulent the culturing of F. tularensis has generally been avoided. PCR offers a safe way to rapidly confirm diagnosis of tularemia. The case of a 9-y-old boy with ulceroglandular tularemia is presented. The diagnosis was made rapidly with DNA amplification from a pus specimen. The efficacy of ciprofloxacin treatment of tularemia in children is also discussed.

• Authors: E K Karhukorpi, J Karhukorpi
• Journal: Scandinavian journal of infectious diseases (Scand J Infect Dis) Vol. 33 Issue 5 Pg. 383-5 ( 2001) ISSN: 0036-5548 [Print] England
• PMID: 11440227 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• DNA, Bacterial

Topics

• Child
• DNA, Bacterial (analysis)
• Francisella tularensis (classification, genetics, isolation & purification)
• Humans
• Lymph Nodes (pathology)
• Male
• Polymerase Chain Reaction (methods)
• Skin Ulcer (microbiology, pathology)
• Time Factors
• Tularemia (diagnosis, microbiology, physiopathology)