Assessment of Diagnostic Efficiency of PCR Kits «Gen Francisella tularensis - REF» and «Gen Francisella tularensis - RGF» when Analyzing Biological Samples from Animals with Experimental Tularemia

Abstract

Objective of the study is to assess diagnostic efficiency of PCR kits «Gen Francisella tularensis - REF» and «Gen Francisella tularensis - RGF», when performing analysis of biological samples from animals with experimental tularemia, as compared to other diagnostic methods. Materials and methods. Samples of lymphatic node, liver, spleen, lung and heart tissues, taken from animals with experimental tularemia with different infectious load, have been analyzed by PCR, ELISA, immune-chromatography, DFA, microscopy and culture cultivation. Results and conclusions. High diagnostic efficiency (98 %) has been determined for PCR kits «Gen Francisella tularensis - REF» and «Gen Francisella tularensis - RGF», used for detection of tularemia agent in biological samples taken from infected animals. For other diagnostic methods this index is: 70,4 % – for ELISA, 72,1 % – for DFA, 54 % – for microscopy and 64,3 % – for culture cultivation. Demonstrated has been the possibility and informational content of investigating lung samples for the presence of F. tularensis at early stages of infection in highly susceptible animals, using PCR and culture cultivation.

Keywords

• diagnostic efficiency
• pcr
• experimental tularemia