Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction improves conventional microbiological diagnosis in an outbreak of brucellosis due to ingestion of unpasteurized goat cheese

• DOI: 10.1016/j.diagmicrobio.2011.06.016
• Publication Date: 2011-08-21T05:49:23Z
• Authors: Juan D. Colmenero; Encarnación Clavijo; Pilar Morata; María J. Bravo; María I. Queipo-O...
• Keywords: Adult; Male; 0301 basic medicine; Adolescent; Epidemiology; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; Brucellosis; Disease Outbreaks; Eating; Young Adult; 03 medical and health sciences; Cheese; 616; Reacción en cadena de la polimerasa; Diagnosis; Brucella melitensis; Animals; Humans; Child; Brucelosis - Diagnóstico; Family Health; Goats; Outbreak; Middle Aged; 3. Good health; Genes, Bacterial; Female; Real-time PCR

Rapid diagnosis of individuals involved in brucellosis outbreaks can sometimes be difficult with conventional microbiological techniques. We analyzed, for the first time, the diagnostic yield of a real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay in a family outbreak of brucellosis due to consumption of unpasteurized goat cheese. PCR correctly identified all symptomatic cases.