Identification of brucella species and biotypes using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP).
Brucellosis is a worldwide zoonosis causing reproductive failures in livestock and a severe multi-organ disease in humans. The genus Brucella is divided into seven species and various biotypes differing in pathogenicity and host specificity. Although Brucella spp. represent a highly homogenous group of bacteria, RFLPs of selected genes display sufficient polymorphism to distinguish Brucella species and biovars. PCR-RFLP analysis shows excellent typeability, reproducibility, stability, and epidemiological concordance. Consequently, PCR-RFLP assays of specific gene loci can serve as tools for diagnostic, epidemiological, taxonomic, and evolutionary studies. Various PCR-RFLPs used for the identification of Brucella species and biotypes are reviewed.
Al Dahouk
Sascha
S
Department of Bacteriology, Bundeswehr Institute of Microbiology, D-80937 Munich, Germany. SaschaAIDahouk@bundeswehr.org
Tomaso
Herbert
H
Prenger-Berninghoff
Ellen
E
Splettstoesser
Wolf D
WD
Scholz
Holger C
HC
Neubauer
Heinrich
H
D001425:Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D002002:Brucella / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D002006:Brucellosis / Q000175:diagnosis*; D016680:Genome, Bacterial; D006801:Humans; D025202:Molecular Diagnostic Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D012150:Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length; D013045:Species Specificity
D001425:Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins