Clinical significance of quantitative detection of Brucella DNA in serum samples

ZHENG Wen-yan; ZHANG Ju-ling; ZHANG Zhuan-cai; YAN Fei; QU Fen

Abstract：Objective To analyze the correlation between quantitative detection of Brucella DNA in serum samples and the clinical manifestations of brucellosis, so as to investigate its significance in the diagnosis of brucellosis. Methods A total of 100 pa-tients from the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region from May 2010 to Jun. 2011, who were Brucella agglutination test positive (slide agglutination from+to++++), were enrolled in the study. Quantitative fluorescent PCR method was used for quantitative detection of Brucella DNA in serum samples. The correlation between the results of quantitative detection of Brucella DNA and the clinical ma-nifestations of brucellosis were analyzed. Results Of 100 patients with Brucella agglutination test positive, 23 had obvious clinical symptoms, including fever (91.3%), general joint pain (78.3%), fatigue (87.0%), hyperhidrosis (65.2%) and other systemic symptoms. Of the 23 patients, 20 had significantly higher levels of Brucella DNA, ranged from 1.30×106 copies/ml to 9.27×106 copies/ml, with the mean level of (2.00±7.87)×106 copies/ml. It only took 3 hours in making quantitative detection of Brucella DNA in serum samples, and the sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of the detection were 86.96%, 97.40%and 95.00%, respectively. Conclusions Quantita-tive detection of Brucella DNA in serum samples can provide an accurate, rapid and reliable laboratory evidence for the diagnosis of brucellosis, and can distinguish the acute phase from recovery phase of Brucella infection, so as to provide an evidence for the time-ly treatment of brucellosis.