SPECIFIC IDENTIFICATION OF CAMPYLOBACTER-FETUS BY PCR TARGETING VARIABLE REGIONS OF THE 16S RDNA

Campylobacter fetus is recognized as a human and animal pathogen. The isolation and differentiation of C. fetus in diagnostic laboratories i s hindered by its relatively slow growth and lack of distinguishing bi ochemical characteristics. We developed a fast, reliable PCR assay tha t specifically amplifies a 554-bp segment of the 16S rDNA from C. fetu s. Fifty-two ATCC reference strains and 255 bacterial field isolates c omprising the genera Campylobacter, Arcobacter, Helicobacter, Escheric hia, Listeria, Salmonella, and Wolinella were evaluated using this PCR protocol. Only C. fetus strains were amplified. Sequence analysis of amplicons from ATCC and field strains of C. fetus confirmed the presen ce of the target DNA fragment. The detection Limit of the technique wa s 5.9 x 10(3) CFU/ml. This PCR assay can yield reliable detection; of C. fetus within 3 h after isolation of presumptive colonies on agar pl ates. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science B.V.