IDENTIFICATION OF RHODOCOCCUS-EQUI USING THE POLYMERASE CHAIN-REACTION

Two regions in the gene coding for 16S rRNA in Rhodococcus equi were s elected as species-specific primer sequences for the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). PCR using these primers was tested against 10 strains of R. equi (including the type strain) and gave positive results for a ll but was negative for all other tested species of Rhodococcus; repre sentatives of the most closely related genera and a number of other ba cterial species. This method could therefore be used to identify this species which can infect the lungs or other organs of horses, pigs, hu mans and other animals.