Genomic DNA fingerprinting, using pulsed-field gel electrophoresis, of Staphylococcus intermedius isolated from dogs.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the degree of polymorphism in the pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) patterns of Staphylococcus intermedius and to assess the value of this typing method for discriminating strains.


METHODS
52 S intermedius isolates from diseased and healthy dogs.


METHODS
Chromosomal DNA of S intermedius was digested with restriction endonuclease Sma I, and the fragments were separated by PFGE in a 1% agarose gel.


RESULTS
Sma I cut the chromosomal DNA into 15 to 23 fragments ranging from about < 1 to 679 kb, and most of the detectable fragments were < 155 kb. Nine fragments, 115, 48, 33, 26, 16, 13, 10, 4, and < 1 kb, were shared by all or almost all (> 71%) of the strains examined. Of the 52 strains, each had a different pattern. S intermedius had a high degree of restriction fragment length polymorphism. The PFGE patterns obtained for S intermedius were stable and reproducible when the strains were tested in the different experiments.


CONCLUSIONS
Genomic DNA fingerprinting by PFGE is an effective technique for discriminating S intermedius strains. The PFGE method appears to be a useful molecular marker for epidemiologic or ecologic studies of S intermedius.
Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Agriculture, Kobe University, Japan.
A
A
Shimizu
H A
HA
Berkhoff
W E
WE
Kloos
C G
CG
George
D N
DN
Ballard
D000818:Animals; D002876:Chromosomes, Bacterial; D016172:DNA Fingerprinting / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary*; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis*; D015252:Deoxyribonucleases, Type II Site-Specific; D004283:Dog Diseases; D004285:Dogs; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000662:veterinary*; D013210:Staphylococcus / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*
D004269:DNA, Bacterial; C025651:CCCGGG-specific type II deoxyribonucleases; D015252:Deoxyribonucleases, Type II Site-Specific