Lm. Berent et al., Specific in situ hybridization of Haemobartonella felis with a DNA probe and tyramide signal amplification, VET PATH, 37(1), 2000, pp. 47-53
Citations number
27
Categorie Soggetti
Veterinary Medicine/Animal Health","Medical Research Diagnosis & Treatment
Haemobartonella felis is an epierythrocytic bacterium suspected to be the c
ausative agent of feline infectious anemia. Previous studies with a polymer
ase chain reaction assay have identified a mycoplasmal 16S rRNA gene sequen
ce that coincides with clinical disease and the presence of organisms in th
e blood. Tissues from a cat experimentally infected with H. felis were used
for in situ hybridization studies to physically link this 16S rRNA gene to
the organisms on the red cells. A biotin-labeled probe was used in conjunc
tion with tyramide signal amplification to visualize the hybridization sign
al. This study clearly demonstrates a specific hybridization signal on the
red cells in the tissues of the H. felis-infected cat. This in situ hybridi
zation study is the final step in fulfilling the molecular guidelines for d
isease causation and proves that H. felis, a mycoplasmal organism, is the c
ausative agent of feline infectious anemia.