Use of genome selected repeated sequences increases the sensitivity of PCR detection of Tropheryma whipplei.

The availability of the Tropheryma whipplei genome offers the putative possibility of choosing logical DNA targets. We applied a PCR assay (targeting repeated sequences of T. whipplei) to samples from patients with Whipple's disease and to those from members of a control group. When compared to the results seen with regular PCR, the sensitivity of repeat PCR was significantly enhanced (P = 0.02) without alteration of its specificity.