SINGLE POLYMERASE CHAIN-REACTION FOR THE DEFECTION OF TETRACYCLINE-RESISTANT DETERMINANTS TET-K AND TET-L

Oligonucleotide primers were used in polymerase chain reaction assays to detect tetracycline-resistant determinants Tet K and Tet L. Forty-t hree isolates representing 11 genera carrying Tet K and/or Tet L deter minants gave appropriate PCR products. The PCR products hybridized wit h labelled Tet K or Tet L probes, and differentiated the Tet K from th e Tet L PCR products. We confirmed that two Haemophilus aphrophilus ca rried the Tet K determinant and two Veillonella parvula carried the Te t L determinant. This is the first time that either of these two genes have been found in Gram-negative species. Four vaginal samples, previ ously positive with the Tet M/O PCR assay, were also positive with the Tet K/L assay. This is the first report of a PCR assay for the detect ion of Tet K and Tet L determinants in bacteria or clinical specimens.