Broad range polymerase chain reaction for diagnosis of rat-bite fever caused by Streptobacillus moniliformis.

Abstract

An 11-year-old boy presented with fever, vomiting, rash, limping and blisters on his feet after a finger bite by his domestic rat. Although cultures from blood, cerebrospinal fluid and urine remained negative, broad range polymerase chain reaction amplification of a part of the 16S rRNA gene followed by sequencing allowed the detection and identification of Streptobacillus moniliformis in blister fluid, thus confirming the suspected clinical diagnosis of rat-bite fever.

• Authors: C Berger, M Altwegg, A Meyer, D Nadal
• Journal: The Pediatric infectious disease journal (Pediatr Infect Dis J) Vol. 20 Issue 12 Pg. 1181-2 (Dec 2001) ISSN: 0891-3668 [Print] United States
• PMID: 11740332 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• DNA, Ribosomal
• RNA, Ribosomal, 16S

Topics

• Animals
• Child
• DNA, Ribosomal (analysis)
• Genes, rRNA
• Humans
• Male
• Polymerase Chain Reaction (methods)
• RNA, Ribosomal, 16S (genetics)
• Rat-Bite Fever (diagnosis, microbiology)
• Rats
• Streptobacillus (genetics, isolation & purification)