IDENTIFICATION AND DIAGNOSTIC OF TAYLOREL LA-EQUIGENITALIS BY A METHOD OF DNA-AMPLIFICATION (PCR)

A polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for identification of Taylorella equ igenitalis was developed. The oligonucleotide primers are based on the DNA sequence of the rrs gene of T. equigenitalis, encoding for the 16 S ribosomal RNA. Analysis of 21 strains of T. equigenitalis from Engla nd, USA and Switzerland showed an amplification product of 410 bp with identical Sau3A restriction profile. The sensitivity of the PCR-Assay was estimated to detect 50 to 500 bacteria of T. equigenitalis in a m ixture with frequently found contaminants. Further analysis of culture from 60 genital swabs, taken in the course of the control of the cont agious equine metritis in horses and donkeys, of experimental assays a s well as of two positive cases from the diagnostic showed that this P CR-assay can be used to identify and to detect strains of T. equigenit alis. In addition, preliminary results indicate chat the method is als o applicable for direct in vitro establishment of the presence of T. e quigenitalis in clinical sampes.