IDENTIFICATION OF MYCOBACTERIA INFECTING FISH TO THE SPECIES LEVEL USING POLYMERASE CHAIN-REACTION AND RESTRICTION ENZYME ANALYSIS

An assay is described utilizing PCR technology for a rapid diagnostic test to identify fish infection with Mycobacterium marinum, M. fortuit um and hi. chelonae. A 924 bp DNA fragment from a highly conserved are a of the mycobacterial 16S rRNA gene was amplified using mycobacteria genus-specific primers and digested with restriction enzymes (BanI and ApaI). This examination yielded unique restriction patterns for each mycobacterial specie enabling identification of mycobacteria infecting fish to the species level. The protocol can be applied to purified DN A, a simple colony preparation or infected fish tissue. This protocol can be completed in 1-2 days. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science B.V.