Loop-mediated isothermal amplification for Rickettsia typhi (the causal agent of murine typhus): problems with diagnosis at the limit of detection.

Journal article

Murine typhus is a flea-borne disease of worldwide distribution caused by Rickettsia typhi. Although treatment with tetracycline antibiotics is effective, treatment is often misguided or delayed due to diagnostic difficulties. As the gold standard immunofluorescence assay is imperfect, we aimed to develop and evaluate a loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assay. LAMP assays have the potential to fulfill the WHO ASSURED criteria (affordable, sensitive, specific, user friendly, robust...

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Authors: Dittrich, S; Castonguay-Vanier, J; Moore, C; Thongyoo, N; Newton, P

• Publication status: Published
• Journal: Journal of clinical microbiology
• Volume: 52
• Issue: 3
• Pages: 832-838
• Publication date: 2014-03-01
• DOI: 10.1128/jcm.02786-13
• EISSN: 1098-660X
• ISSN: 0095-1137
• Language: English
• Keywords: Humans; Animals; Middle Aged; Female; Prospective Studies; Bacteriological Techniques; Male; Limit of Detection; Bacterial Load; Nucleic Acid Amplification Techniques; Rickettsia typhi; Typhus, Endemic Flea-Borne; Adult; Molecular Diagnostic Techniques; Young Adult