SPECIFIC DETECTION OF CAMPYLOBACTER-LARI BY PCR

Campylobacter lari is a bacterium associated infrequently with human e nteritis. Its differentiation from C. jejuni and C. coli relies on a f ew biochemical tests whose efficacy is highly questioned; therefore, t he incidence and transmission of this pathogen has not been well studi ed. Two novel oligonucleotide primers for the polymerase chain reactio n (PCR) that specifically amplify a 579-bp segment of the 16S rRNA gen e of C. lari under optimized conditions were designed. No PCR product was detected when DNA from other strains of Campylobacter, Arcobacter, Helicobacter, Escherichia, Salmonella or Listeria was used as templat es. Fast identification of C. lari through the present technique may a id the understanding of its incidence and epidemiology. (C) 1997 Elsev ier Science B.V.