Use of a reliable PCR assay for the detection of Neisseria gonorrhoeae in Peruvian patients

H. Mayta, M. Calderon, J. Taverna, S. Montenegro, J. Balqui, K. Campos, I. Tuero, J. Arevalo, A. Vivar, R. H. Gilman

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

2 Scopus citations

Abstract

Neisseria gonorrhoeae is the most common sexually transmitted disease-causing bacterium worldwide. An in-house PCR assay targeting the carbamoyl-phosphate synthase subunit A (carA) gene was developed for the specific detection of N. gonorrhoeae in clinical specimens. Samples from 605 patients were cultured on selective medium and assayed by PCR in a double-blind fashion. Of 605 urethral/cervical samples analysed, 13 were PCR-positive, of which 11 were culture-positive. The PCR showed a sensitivity and specificity of 100% and 99.7% with these samples. PCR targeting the carA gene appears to be a reliable method for the detection of N. gonorrhoeae in clinical specimens.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)809-812
Number of pages4
JournalClinical Microbiology and Infection
Volume12
Issue number8
DOIs
StatePublished - Aug 2006

Keywords

  • Diagnosis
  • Neisseria gonorrhoeae
  • PCR
  • Sexually transmitted disease
  • Swab samples
  • carA gene

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Microbiology (medical)
  • Infectious Diseases

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