QUANTITATIVE PCR DETECTION OF ASPERGILLUS SPP IN CLINICAL SAMPLES FROM HEZHOU PROVINCE, GUANGXI, CHINA
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Issued Date
2023-01-01
Resource Type
ISSN
01251562
eISSN
26975718
Scopus ID
2-s2.0-85152666502
Journal Title
Southeast Asian Journal of Tropical Medicine and Public Health
Volume
54
Issue
2
Start Page
43
End Page
59
Rights Holder(s)
SCOPUS
Bibliographic Citation
Southeast Asian Journal of Tropical Medicine and Public Health Vol.54 No.2 (2023) , 43-59
Suggested Citation
Intirach J. QUANTITATIVE PCR DETECTION OF ASPERGILLUS SPP IN CLINICAL SAMPLES FROM HEZHOU PROVINCE, GUANGXI, CHINA. Southeast Asian Journal of Tropical Medicine and Public Health Vol.54 No.2 (2023) , 43-59. 59. Retrieved from: https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/123456789/82510
Title
QUANTITATIVE PCR DETECTION OF ASPERGILLUS SPP IN CLINICAL SAMPLES FROM HEZHOU PROVINCE, GUANGXI, CHINA
Author(s)
Other Contributor(s)
Abstract
Microscopic detection of infectious fungus is frequently insensitive while traditional culture-based methods have limited sensitivity and specificity. PCR-based techniques provide rapid, sensitive and specific detection of pathogens. Quantitative (q)PCR, in comparison to direct microscopic examination and culture method, was carried out to identify Aspergillus flavus, A. fumigatus and A. niger, three of the most medically important pathogenic Aspergillus spp in clinical specimens from Hezhou People’s Hospital in Guangxi province, PR China. Among clinical specimens (n = 161) collected between March and November 2020, qPCR-positive samples were obtained from female (n = 22) and male (n = 34) patients, with a median age of 61.0 and 62.5 years respectively (range = 10 months-92 years old). Excellent agreement was observed between the qPCR assay and culture technique (concordance rate Ƙ = 0.944, p-value <0.0001), while smear method demonstrated moderate agreement (concordance rate Ƙ = 0.476, p-value <0.0001). A. fumigatus, A. niger and A. flavus was identified in 75, 16 and 9%, respectively of positive specimens (n = 56) obtained from patients (n = 31) >60 years of age. Of 53 qPCR Aspergillus spp-positive specimens, 77, 9 and 9% were from sputum, ear secretion and abscess, respectively. The superior sensitivity, specificity and rapidity of qPCR compared to microscopic and culture techniques in the detection of Aspergillus spp in clinical samples despite its initial hardware cost.