DETECTION OF YERSINIA-ENTEROCOLITICA IN FOOD BY PCR AMPLIFICATION

A polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay was developed for detection of pathogenic, virulent strains of Yersinia enterocolitica. By using bot h virulence loci virF and mil as markers for pathogenicity, detection of species with a virulence factor present was possible. DNA preparati on in the presence of hexadecyl trimethy ammonium bromide (CTAB) was f ollowed by two 44 cycle amplification reactions, one for each of the m arkers. As fews as 10(2) Y. enterocolitica cells were detected in grou nd pork in the presence of 10(5)-10(6) bacteria of other species. The described PCR assay provides a sensitive robust assay for the detectio n of virulent Y. enterocolitica in food.