EliGene® Babesia/Bartonella RT

Intended use

EliGene® Babesia/Bartonella RT kit is intended for DNA diagnostics of pathogenic species Babesia spp. and Bartonella spp. from isolated DNA. The kit detects all known species of these microorganisms.

Principle of the method

This diagnostic kit is based on RealTime PCR method. In this kit specific primers and dual-labeled fluorescent probes for the detection of DNA are used.

Compatible instruments

The following list represents instruments on which the above mentioned kits were tested. Please contact us for compatibility with other instruments.

• Thermofisher Scientific: Quant Studio 5
• Bio-Rad: CFX96 Touch Real-Time PCR Detection System
• Bio Molecular Systems: MIC qPCR Cycler

Introduction

Babesiosis is an infection caused by parasitic protozoa of Babesia spp., the most common is Babesia microti. This parasite is transmitted by ticks and primarily infects erythrocytes. If a tick carries a protozoon, sporozoite form enters the human bloodstream. Sporozoites enter erythrocytes, where they mature and divide by binary cleavage to form merozoites. These merozoites then leave the host erythrocyte, disrupt the cell and continue to infect other erythrocytes, repeating the above-mentioned cycle. The spleen is essential for the host's ability to control this infection. People, who have undergone a splenectomy are at high risk of a severe infection. Other high-risk populations include people with HIV, people over 50, newborns, and immunosuppressed patients. PCR diagnostics from blood is a more sensitive alternative to microscopic examination.

Bartonella spp. are slowly growing facultatively intracellular bacteria that can cause a variety of diseases in both, humans and animals. These zoonotic bacteria can be transmitted directly from animals to humans (eg. Bartonella henselae) or various blood-sucking vectors, including lice and flies. It is known more than 40 Bartonella spp. species, of which at least 14 are considered human pathogens. Most human infections are caused by Bartonella quintana, B. henselae and Bartonella bacilliformis, whereas B. bacilliformis is endemic in the Andes in South America.

Ticks are thought to transmit Bartonella, because Bartonella henselae and other species were proved in the blood of patients exposed to ticks. Various species of Bartonella spp. have been found in ticks of Ixodes ricinus. Human bartonellosis can manifest with a wide range of symptoms such as recurrent fever, headache, lymphadenopathy, myalgia, endocarditis, etc. PCR diagnostics from blood and tissues is an alternative to other diagnostic procedures.

Clinical material and recommended DNA isolation procedure

Blood, CSF, tissue

Manual:  Quick-DNA/RNA Miniprep Plus Kit (Zymo Research)

Automatic: ZEPHYRUS Magneto (ELISABETH PHARMACON)

CE IVD