Prevalence and genetic variability of Arcobacter species in mechanically separated turkey

A survey for Arcobacter spp, and Arcobacter butzleri in mechanically separa ted turkey was conducted during the winter of 1995 and summer and fall of 1 996. Arcobacter spp. and A. butzleri were identified by polymerase chain re action and species-specific oligonucleotide probes. Arcobacter spp. were is olated from 77% (303 out of 395) of the mechanically separated turkey sampl es with 74% (223 out of 303) of these samples positive for A. butzleri. Of the 121 A. butzleri isolates tested, 86 different patterns were evident fol lowing amplification of enterobacterial repetitive intergenic consensus seq uences. The extent of generic polymorphism indicated multiple sources of co ntamination.