Antigen Detection and PCR versus Conventional Culture for Diagnosis of Campylobacter Infections in Pediatric Gastroenteritis

Document Type : New and original researches in the field of Microbiology.

Authors

1 Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt

2 Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt

Abstract

Background: Campylobacter is one of the leading pathogens which causes bacterial gastroenteritis among children worldwide, especially in developing countries.  Several laboratory methods have been used to diagnose campylobacteriosis including culture, ELISA, and PCR. Objectives: The aim of this study was to compare PCR and antigen detection by ELISA with culture for the detection of Campylobacter. Methodology: The present study was conducted on 160 stool samples that were collected from pediatric patients complaining of acute gastroenteritis. All samples were cultured on Modified Charcoal Cefoperazone Deoxycholate Agar (mCCDA) and suspected colonies were consequently identified. Detection of Campylobacter antigen (PEB1) in stools was done by ELISA. Molecular detection of virulence genes: cadF, hipO, and asp in stools was done by multiplex PCR. Results: Thirty-five samples (21.9%) were found to be positive for Campylobacter by culture. Campylobacter antigen was detected in 50 samples (31.3%) by ELISA. cadF gene was detected in 47 samples (29.4%)  by PCR, 39 of which were positive for hipO gene and thus identified as Campylobacter jejuni, while asp gene was not detected in any sample. Conclusion: Alternative diagnostic tests for campylobacteriosis that do not rely on culture have become increasingly important. Nucleic acid-based techniques can detect the presence of Campylobacter infection and even distinguish between different Campylobacter species.

Keywords

Main Subjects

Files

Share

How to cite

Statistics