equine assay data sheet
Streptococcus pneumoniae
Test code:
B0001 - Qualitative detection of
Streptococcus pneumoniae by polymerase chain reaction.
Streptococcus pneumoniae
is gram-positive, alpha-hemolytic, bile-soluble aerotolerant
anaerobe. Besides pneumonia, this organism causes many other
types of infection, such as acute sinusitis, otitis media,
meningitis, bacteremia, sepsis, osteomyelitis, septic arthritis,
endocarditis, peritonitis, pericarditis, cellulitis, and brain
abscess.
S.
pneumoniae
is the most common cause of bacterial meningitis in humans, and
is one of the two most prevalent isolates found in ear
infection, otitis media. Several animal species, including
rodents, dogs and monkeys, can also be infected with these
bacteria.
Culture detection of S.
pneumoniae is not very sensitive compared to
molecular detection by PCR. In addition, PCR is much more
specific and rapid than culture (Virolainen et al., 1994).
Utilities:
-
Help confirm the disease causing agent
-
Shorten the time required to confirm a clinical
diagnosis of S.
pneumoniae infection.
-
Help ensure that horse populations are free of
S. pneumoniae
-
Early prevention of spread of this bacterium
-
Minimize personnel exposure to this bacterium
-
Safety monitoring of biological products that derive
from horses
References:
Virolainen, A., Salo, P., Jero, J., Karma, P.,
Eskola, J., and Leinonen, M. (1994) Comparison of PCR
assay with bacterial culture for detecting
Streptococcus pneumoniae
in middle ear fluid of children with acute otitis media. J. Clin.
Microbiol. 32: pp2667-2670.
Specimen requirements:
0.2 ml whole
blood in EDTA (purple top) tube, or serum,
pleural fluid, CSF or bacterial culture; or 0.1 ml fresh, frozen
or fixed tissue.
Contact Zoologix if advice is needed to determine an appropriate specimen type for a specific diagnostic application. For specimen types not listed here, please contact Zoologix to confirm specimen acceptability and shipping instructions.
For all
specimen types, if there will be a delay in shipping, or during
very warm weather, refrigerate specimens until shipped and ship
with a cold pack unless more stringent shipping requirements are
specified. Frozen specimens should be shipped so as to remain
frozen in transit. See shipping
instructions for more information.
Turnaround time:
2 business days
Methodology:
Qualitative PCR
Normal range:
Nondetected
