Sensitivity of PCR targeting Mycobacterium ulcerans by use of fine-needle aspirates for diagnosis of Buruli ulcer

J Clin Microbiol. 2009 Apr;47(4):924-6. doi: 10.1128/JCM.01842-08. Epub 2009 Feb 9.

Abstract

In a previous study, we reported that the sensitivity of PCR targeting the IS2404 insertion sequence of Mycobacterium ulcerans was 98% when it was applied to 4-mm punch biopsy samples of Buruli lesions. Fine-needle aspiration (FNA) is a less traumatic sampling technique for nonulcerated lesions, and we have studied the sensitivity of PCR using FNA samples. Fine-needle aspirates were taken with a 21-gauge needle from 43 patients diagnosed clinically with M. ulcerans disease. Four-millimeter punch biopsies were obtained for microscopy, culture, and PCR targeting the IS2404 insertion sequence. The sensitivity of PCR using samples obtained by FNA was 86% (95% confidence interval [95% CI], 72 to 94%) compared with that for PCR using punch biopsy samples. In this study, the sensitivities of culture and microscopy for punch biopsy samples were 44% (95% CI, 29 to 60%) and 26% (95% CI, 14 to 41%), respectively. This demonstrates that PCR on an FNA sample is a viable minimally invasive technique to diagnose M. ulcerans lesions.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Evaluation Study

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Biopsy, Fine-Needle*
  • Buruli Ulcer / diagnosis*
  • Child
  • DNA Transposable Elements
  • DNA, Bacterial / genetics
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Mycobacterium ulcerans / genetics*
  • Mycobacterium ulcerans / isolation & purification*
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction / methods*
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • DNA Transposable Elements
  • DNA, Bacterial