Development of a ceuE-based multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay for direct detection and differentiation of Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli in Thailand

A novel ceuE-based multiplex PCR system was developed as an efficient diagn ostics test to detect and differentiate C. jejuni and C, coil. There is no cross reactivity between C. jejuni and C. coli. In addition, the assay does not produce a positive signal from other enteric bacteria including Salmon ella, Shigella and Escherichia coli strains. Campylobacter detection sensit ivity was determined to be equivalent to previously reported PCR for other enteric bacteria. We also noticed that silicon dioxide extraction can impro ve Campylobacter detection sensitivity from infected stool samples. It was demonstrated that the PCR assay developed in this study had a much better C ampylobacter detection rate than the traditional culturing method (77% vers us 56%). However, we also identified small numbers of culture positive stoo ls (8%, or 16 out of 202 samples) that did not yield PCR positive results f or Campylobacter. These PCR negative/culture positive stools were proven to be inhibitory to PCR amplification. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Inc. All rig hts reserved.