DIFFERENTIATION OF CAMPYLOBACTER-JEJUNI AND CAMPYLOBACTER-COLI BY POLYMERASE CHAIN-REACTION

A multiplex PCR assay was developed using two primer sets for the iden tification and differentiation of Campylobacter coil and Campylobacter jejuni. Primer Set I amplifies a 460-bp fragment present in C. coil a nd C. jejuni. Set II amplifies a 160-bp target unique to C. jejuni. Wh en the assay was performed on reference strains, amplification of C. c oil yielded only the 460-bp fragment. Amplification of C. jejuni gener ated both the 160- and 460-bp fragments. Campylobacter field strains ( n=85) isolated from raw poultry were identified by PCR and by conventi onal biochemical methods. Species determination by the two methods agr eed for 83 of the 85 isolates examined. By PCR, 23 were identified as C. coil and 62 as C. jejuni. One isolate was unidentifiable by biochem ical testing. The PCR assay identified this isolate as C. coil. in add ition, one strain which was identified as C. coli by biochemical testi ng was determined to be C. jejuni by PCR. The PCR assay offers an alte rnative to traditional biochemical typing methods for the identificati on and differentiation of C. coil and C. jejuni isolated from poultry. it is accurate, simple to perform, and can be completed within 8 h. ( C) 1997 U.S. Government.