*1,2Peletiri, I. C., 1Ikeh, E. I., 1Ayanbimpe, G. M., and 3Nna, E.
1Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Clinical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, University of Jos, Nigeria
2Medical Microbiology & Parasitology Laboratories, National Hospital, Abuja, FCT, Nigeria
3Safety Molecular Pathology Laboratory, The Molecular Pathology Institute, Enugu, Enugu State, Nigeria
*Correspondence to: kumochris@hotmail.com
Abstract:
Background: The most commonly used approaches for detection and characterization of bacterial pathogens of meningitis in developing countries include culture, Gram stain, and latex agglutination. The positivity rate of culture is relatively low due to suboptimal storage and transportation conditions, culture practice, and/or antibiotic treatment administered before specimens are collected. Specimens that yield no growth in culture can still be analyzed using molecular methods, and metagenomic DNA (mDNA) extracted directly from clinical samples (CSF) can be used. We aimed to detect and characterize three major bacterial causes of cerebrospinal meningitis (CSM); Neisseria meningitidis, Haemophilus influenzae, and Streptococcus pneumoniae using mDNA extracted directly from CSF samples.
Methodology: Metagenomic DNA templates were prepared directly from CSF specimens collected from 210 patients with suspected CSM. A multiplex Real Time PCR (mRT-PCR) using the ABI StepOne Plus Machine and Taqman Probe chemistry was used in the molecular detection, while serogroup/serotype-specific singleplex RT-PCR was used to characterize all positives samples. Continue reading “Molecular detection and characterization of bacteria from CSF samples of patients with suspected cerebrospinal meningitis in parts of northern Nigeria using metagenomic DNA extracts”