ANALYSIS OF THE 16S RIBOSOMAL-RNA GENE SEQUENCE OF THE CORYNEFORM BACTERIUM ASSOCIATED WITH HYPERKERATOTIC DERMATITIS OF ATHYMIC NUDE-MICE AND DEVELOPMENT OF A PCR-BASED DETECTION ASSAY

By 16S rDNA sequencing the authors have characterized the coryneform b acteria associated with hyperkeratotic dermatitis (HD) of athymic nude mice isolated from six different outbreaks oi the disease in Northern Italy. This analysis has allowed the authors to confirm the classific ation of the bacteria as Corynebacterium bovis and to develop a 16S rD NA-based polymerase chain reaction (PCR) detection assay. The test was performed directly on the DNA extracted from epidermal swabs. The PCR primers were chosen to match the 16S rDNA sequence fragments which di ffer most from the other Corynebacterium spp. The test was shown to be both sensitive and specific for C. bovis Detection of as few as three viable bacterial cells was possible with the use of an oligonucleotid e probe in a liquid hybridization assay. (C) 1998 Academic Press.