PCR DETECTION OF COXIELLA-BURNETII FROM DIFFERENT CLINICAL SPECIMENS,ESPECIALLY BOVINE-MILK, ON THE BASIS OF DNA PREPARATION WITH A SILICAMATRIX

For PCR detection of Coxiella burnetii in various clinical specimens w e developed a sample preparation method in which silica binding of DNA was used. This method was found to be fast, easily performed with lar ge numbers of samples, and equally sensitive for all of the specimens tested (livers, spleens, placentas, heart valves, milk, blood). The DN A preparation method described here can also be used as an initial ste p in any PCR-based examination of specimens. The procedure was tested with more than 600 milk samples, which were taken from 21 cows that we re seropositive for C. burnetii and reportedly had fertility problems (and therefore were suspected of shedding the agent through milk inter mittently or continuously). Of the 21 cows tested, 6 were shedding C, burnetii through milk Altogether, C, burnetii DNA was detected in 6% o f the samples. There was no correlation between the shedding pattern a nd the serological results.