Comparison of two different PCR assays for the detection of thermotolerantCampylobacter spp. in poultry

In this study two PCR-assays were compared for there suitability in routine food-examination. The rapid and sensitive seminested PCR assay of Wegmuell er et al. (1993) provides a useful tool for specific detection of thermotol erant Campylobacter spp. in poultry. For laboratories, which have not estab lished hybridisation technique yet, the seminested PCR assay fulfils the ne cessity to verify the amplicons (Anonymous, 1998 a) and provides therefore an alternative to the published provisional method according to 35 LMBG (An onymous. 2000). The results clearly show that the pg50/ pg3-PCR assay (Oyof o et al., 1992) isn't a useful screening method because there is a strong n ecessity to verify the obtained amplicons by southernblot-hybridization in order to increase sensitivity and specificity. To avoid false-negative resu lts extern amplification controls are reliable tools. The commercially avai lable DNA-Extraction kit used in this study facilitates rapid and effective extraction of bacterial DNA out of food matrix.