PCR-based diagnosis of Naegleria sp. infection in formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded brain sections

J Clin Microbiol. 2007 Feb;45(2):564-7. doi: 10.1128/JCM.01357-06. Epub 2006 Nov 22.

Abstract

We developed a real-time PCR which allowed the highly sensitive detection of Naegleria fowleri in histological brain tissue sections from experimentally infected mice. This genus-specific small-subunit (18S) rRNA gene-based PCR can complement conventional (immuno-) histology for the diagnosis of primary amoebic meningoencephalitis in paraffin-embedded brain necropsy specimens that had been fixed in formalin buffered with phosphate-buffered saline.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amebiasis / diagnosis
  • Amebiasis / parasitology
  • Animals
  • Brain / parasitology*
  • DNA, Protozoan / analysis
  • Fixatives
  • Formaldehyde
  • Meningoencephalitis / diagnosis*
  • Meningoencephalitis / parasitology
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Naegleria fowleri / genetics
  • Naegleria fowleri / growth & development
  • Naegleria fowleri / isolation & purification*
  • Paraffin Embedding / methods*
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction / methods*
  • Tissue Fixation / methods*

Substances

  • DNA, Protozoan
  • Fixatives
  • Formaldehyde