PURPOSE To detect simultaneously herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1), type 2 (HSV-2), cytomegalovirus (CMV), and varicella-zoster virus (VZV) in ocular specimens suspected of indicating viral infection, and to compare the results of multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with those of uniplex PCR. METHODS Forty specimens, collected from 33 patients with clinically suspected herpes virus oc...

PURPOSE To develop a multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for the detection of adenovirus, herpes simplex virus, and Chlamydia trachomatis in conjunctival swabs. METHODS Oligonucleotide primers for detection of the 3 agents were combined in one reaction and evaluated for optimal performance using control DNAs of adenovirus type 2, herpes simplex virus, and C. trachomatis plasmid. The mul...

Shortage of human organs forced the development of xenotransplantation using cells, tissues, and organs from pigs. Xenotransplantation may be associated with the transmission of porcine zoonotic microorganisms, among them the porcine cytomegalovirus (PCMV). To prevent virus transmission, pigs have to be screened using sensitive methods. In order to perform regular follow-ups and further breedin...

BACKGROUND Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi, as causative agent of typhoid fever, is one of the most important endemic pathogens. Non-typhoidal Salmonella serovars, including Typhimurium, Infantis, and Enteritidis are amongst the most prevalent serotypes worldwide and in developing areas such as Iran. The aim of this study was to apply a uniplex PCR for rapid detection of Salmonella spp., and ...

background: brucellosis is an endemic zoonotic disease in the middle east. this study intended to design a uniplex pcr assay for the detection and differentiation of brucella at the species level and determining the antibiotic susceptibility pattern of brucella in iran. methods: sixty-eight brucella specimens (38 animal and 30 human specimens) were analyzed using pcr (using one pair of primers)...

BACKGROUND Salmonella typhi, Bacillus anthracis, and Yersinia pestis are some serious human pathogens, which their early diagnosis is of great importance. Salmonella typhi, Bacillus anthracis, and Yersinia pestis cause typhoid fever, anthrax, and plague respectively. These bacteria can be used to make biologic weapons. OBJECTIVES In this study, we designed a new and rapid diagnostic method ba...

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVES Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) has been known to be a rapid and accurate diagnostic test for causative viruses of viral retinitis, but cost is the limiting factor. In the present study an attempt was made to standardize a multiplex PCR (mPCR) on intraocular specimens from patients with viral retinitis for the detection of one or more viruses [herpes simplex virus (HSV),...

Since the description of Candida orthopsilosis and C. metapsilosis in 2005, several methods have been proposed to identify and differentiate these species from C. parapsilosis sensu stricto. Species-specific uniplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was performed and compared with sequencing of the D1/D2 region of the LSU 28S rDNA gene, microsatellite typing of C. parapsilosis sensu stricto, and ...

Respiratory tract infections (RTI) frequently cause hospital admissions among adults. Diagnostic viral reverse transcriptase PCR (RT-PCR) of nose and throat swabs (NTS) is useful for patient care by informing antiviral use and appropriate isolation. However, automated RT-PCR systems are not amenable to utilizing sputum due to its viscosity. We evaluated a simple method of processing sputum samp...

BACKGROUND Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) complicated by parapneumonic effusion/empyema is an infectious syndrome commonly encountered by physicians caring for children in Canada. OBJECTIVE To investigate the incremental benefit of novel molecular testing for the microbiological diagnosis of pediatric CAP complicated by parapneumonic effusion/empyema in Canada. METHODS A convenience sam...