Diagnosis of human rabies cases by polymerase chain reaction of neck-skin samples

Rapid diagnosis of rabies in suspected human cases influences post-exposure prophylaxis for potential contacts of the patient and ensures appropriate patient management. Apart from the central nervous system (CNS), rabies virus (RABV) is usually present in small sensory nerves adjacent to hair folli...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The Brazilian journal of infectious diseases 2006-10, Vol.10 (5), p.341-345
Main Authors: Macedo, Carla Isabel, Carnieli, Jr, Pedro, Brandão, Paulo Eduardo, Travassos da Rosa, Elizabeth S, Oliveira, Rafael de Novaes, Castilho, Juliana Galera, Medeiros, Rita, Machado, Rosangela Rocha, Oliveira, Rosely Cerqueira de, Carrieri, Maria Luiza, Kotait, Ivanete
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
diagnosis
DNA Primers
DNA sequencing
DNA, Viral - analysis
Dogs
Fluorescent Antibody Technique
Human rabies
Humans
INFECTIOUS DISEASES
Mice
Neck - virology
neck-skin
Phylogeny
Rabies - diagnosis
Rabies - virology
Rabies virus - genetics
Rabies virus - immunology
Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
RNA, Viral - analysis
RT-PCR
Sensitivity and Specificity
Sequence Analysis, DNA
Skin - virology
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Summary:Rapid diagnosis of rabies in suspected human cases influences post-exposure prophylaxis for potential contacts of the patient and ensures appropriate patient management. Apart from the central nervous system (CNS), rabies virus (RABV) is usually present in small sensory nerves adjacent to hair follicles of infected humans. We used an RT-PCR, with primers targeted to the 3' terminal portion of the nucleoprotein gene (N), to test neck-skin samples of nine patients who had rabies in order to validate a diagnostic method that could serve as an additional tool for rabies diagnosis, particularly in antemortem samples. Six of eight postmortem samples were found to be positive for rabies by RT-PCR, and one of two samples collected antemortem was positive with this same technique. Results were confirmed by DNA sequencing; this validates RT-PCR and neck-skin as a suitable technique and type of sample, respectively, for use in the diagnosis of human rabies. RT-PCR applied to neck-skin biopsies could allow early diagnosis and lead to more effective rabies treatment.
ISSN:1413-8670
1678-4391
1413-8670
DOI:10.1590/S1413-86702006000500008