Specific identification, grouping and differentiation of Campylobacter jejuni among thermophilic campylobacters using multiplex PCR

Campylobacter species such as C. jejuni and C. coli are recognized as major causes of acute gastroenteritis. world-wide. Although C. jejuni and C. col i are usually non-pathogenic in birds and animals, they cause enteric disea se in humans and the source of infection is often the consumption of contam inated foodstuffs. In this paper we report on the development and use of a multiplex PCR of C. jejuni genomic DNA which yielded a PCR product with a u nique polymorphic site that can be used to quickly and accurately identify and group C. jejuni isolates from any source including DNA, cell culture, s kin washings and faecal samples. The test is simple and sensitive and can d etect purified DNA from a single bacterium 10(2) cells from crude lysates, 10(3) cells in seeded faeces and 120 cells/ml of washing of 1 cm(2) skin fr agments of chicken skin.