Detection of Salmonella infantis in synovial fluid cells of a patient withreactive arthritis

We investigated a patient with Salmonella infantis triggered reactive arthr itis (ReA) for a possible occurrence of S. infantis-specific antigens and D NA in the synovial fluid (SF) cells. S. infantis-specific antigens were abu ndantly observed by innmunofluorescence in SF cells of the patient during a cute joint inflammation. Salmonella-specific DNA was detected by Southern b lotting of the amplified polymerase chain reaction product once, but the re sult could not be repeated. It seems that if bacterial DNA exists in inflam ed joints in Salmonella triggered ReA, its amount is extremely low. This is the first report of intraarticular S. infantis antigens and potentially of Salmonella DNA in Salmonella triggered ReA.