Abstract: Objective To study the effect of nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) of rrf(5S)-rrl(23S) intergenic spacer rRNA in serum for diagnosing suspected Lyme disease patients. Methods Serum samples, epidemiological data, and clinical information of suspected Lyme disease patients were collected. Then, DNA were extracted from the serums and detected by nested PCR and conventional PCR. Results Out of 102 serum samples collected from suspected Lyme disease patients, 39 positive ones were detected by nested PCR, with a positive rate of 38.23%; the bite time of 33(84.62%) was within two months. Only one was positive by conventional PCR, with a positive rate of 0.98%, far less than nested PCR(38.23%). Conclusion For suspected Lyme disease patients' serum samples, nested PCR of rrf(5S)-rrl(23S) intergenic spacer rRNA could be a method to diagnose Lyme disease etiologically.

Key words: Lyme disease, Nested polymerase chain reaction, rrf(5S)-rrl(23S) intergenic spacer rRNA

摘要： 目的 研究rrf(5S)～rrl(23S) rRNA基因间隔区巢式PCR用于疑似莱姆病患者血清标本的检测效果。方法 收集疑似莱姆病患者血清标本及其流行病学和临床资料,提取DNA进行巢式PCR、普通PCR检测。结果 共收集102份疑似莱姆病患者血清,巢式PCR检测阳性39例,阳性率为38.23%,其中蜱叮咬时间在2个月内的为33例,占84.62%;普通PCR只有1份阳性,阳性率为0.98%,远低于巢式PCR(38.23%)。结论 rrf(5S)～rrl(23S) rRNA基因间隔区巢式PCR可用于疑似莱姆病患者血清标本检测,从病原学角度支持莱姆病的诊断。

关键词: 莱姆病, 巢式PCR, rrf(5S)～rrl(23S)rRNA基因间隔区