DETECTION OF ROCHALIMAEA-HENSELAE DNA BY POLYMERASE CHAIN-REACTION FROM SUPPURATIVE NODES OF CHILDREN WITH CAT-SCRATCH DISEASE

A polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay was designed to amplify DNA fr om Rochalimaea henselae, Rochalimaea quintana and Afipia felis in the purulent material from lymph nodes in three patients with clinical cat -scratch disease (CSD) and two patients with lymphadenitis from other causes. All of the patients with CSD had positive immunofluorescent an tibody serology for R. henselae, while none of the controls was positi ve. PCR amplification confirmed the presence of R. henselae DNA and th e absence of R. quintana and A. felis DNA in the purulent material fro m CSD patients. PCR samples from control patients were negative. The P CR amplification of R. henselae DNA was performed quickly and with gre at sensitivity and specificity. It confirmed the presence of R. hensel ae in the CSD patients and eliminated the need for more extensive diag nostic and therapeutic procedures.