Species identification and detection of vancomycin resistance genes in enterococci of animal origin by multiplex PCR.
A multiplex PCR assay for the differentiation of species and detection of vancomycin (van) resistance genes in enterococci was established. Three hundred sixty-seven enterococcal strains isolated from food were selected from a sample collection and were examined with regards to the existence of four vancomycin resistance genes (vanA, vanB, vanC1 and vanC2) and to species differentiation (E. faecalis, E. faecium, E. casseliflavus and E. gallinarum) by multiplex PCR. Apart from unambiguous results for the majority of strains, the E. faecium specific primers used here, showed weak points in the specificity and sensitivity, respectively. Despite these rare instances, we succeeded in optimising the multiplex PCR assay by variation of annealing temperature and primer combination. The assay presented here, with its optimised parameters, is therefore suitable for routine use and because of time and material saving, it is an alternative and rapid method in comparison to conventional tests.
Federal Institute of Consumer Health Protection and Veterinary Medicine, Diedersdorfer Weg 1, D-12277 Berlin, Germany. k.mac@bgvv.de
Kiem
K
Mac
Heidi
H
Wichmann-Schauer
Jan
J
Peters
Lüppo
L
Ellerbroek
D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D002417:Cattle; D002645:Chickens; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis*; D016983:Enterococcus / Q000145:classification* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics*; D013293:Enterococcus faecalis / Q000145:classification / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D016984:Enterococcus faecium / Q000145:classification / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D005516:Food Microbiology; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013045:Species Specificity; D013552:Swine; D020713:Vancomycin Resistance / Q000235:genetics*
D004269:DNA, Bacterial