title: Detection of Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis in bovine fecal samples: comparison of three polymerase chain reaction-based diagnostic tests with a conventional culture method.
abstract: Three commercially available assays, designed to specifically detect the presence of Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP) in fecal samples by IS900-PCR, were compared with a conventional culture method. Fecal samples from 100 dairy cows were tested. Fifty-four (67.5%) of 80 culture-positive samples were positive for an assay that detects MAP DNA by dot spot hybridization of polymerase chain reaction products (kit A), 48 (60%) were positive by an assay using ethidium bromide staining for agar gel visualization of amplification products (kit B), and 49 (61.3%) were positive by an assay in which amplified products are detected by a colorimetric detection system (kit C). Relative sensitivity of all tests increased in proportion to the presence of MAP in fecal samples. Specificity was 100% based on results from 20 culture-negative samples from an MAP-free herd.
authors.affiliation: Sezione di Malattie Infettive degli Animali, Dipartimento di Salute Animale, Università di Parma, 43100 Parma, Italy.
authors.forename: Simone
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Taddei
authors.forename: Chiara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Robbi
authors.forename: Camilla
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cesena
authors.forename: Ilenia
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Rossi
authors.forename: Emiliana
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Schiano
authors.forename: Norma
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Arrigoni
authors.forename: Gaddo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Vicenzoni
authors.forename: Sandro
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cavirani
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D002418:Cattle Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology*; D003124:Colorimetry / Q000662:veterinary; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology*; D016927:Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D009693:Nucleic Acid Hybridization; D010283:Paratuberculosis / Q000175:diagnosis*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary*
chemical_list: D004269:DNA, Bacterial