title: Comparative performance of different PCR assays for the identification of Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli.
abstract: The sensitivity and specificity of 7 PCR assays described for the identification of Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli were examined using alkaline cell lysates from a collection of 100 well characterized reference strains of C. jejuni, C. coli, Campylobacter lari and related Campylobacter, Helicobacter and Arcobacter species. Based on a preliminary evaluation, one multiplex test was excluded from further evaluation. The various assays differed considerably in sensitivity and specificity towards their target species. For C. coli, 4 of the 5 assays were 100% specific and sensitive, but for C. jejuni, none of the 5 assays were found to be 100% specific or sensitive. Subsequently, a statistically valid sample (n=263) was taken from a Belgian collection of 1906 human Campylobacter field isolates. This second collection was used to further evaluate two selected multiplex PCR assays. The present study indicates that PCR-based identification using each of the two selected multiplex PCR assays was highly reliable. The R-mPCR assay, followed by species-specific PCR assays or the ceu-oxr mPCR assay if necessary, is our current strategy of choice for the molecular identification of C. jejuni and C. coli. Results presented here should aid researchers in selecting a PCR assay suitable for their specific needs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Physiology and Microbiology, Faculty of Sciences, Ghent University, Ledeganckstraat 35, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium. lies.debruyne@ugent.be
authors.forename: Lies
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Debruyne
authors.forename: Emly
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Samyn
authors.forename: Evie
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: De Brandt
authors.forename: Olivier
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Vandenberg
authors.forename: Marc
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Heyndrickx
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Vandamme
mesh_terms: D015373:Bacterial Typing Techniques; D002169:Campylobacter Infections / Q000382:microbiology; D017000:Campylobacter coli / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D016123:Campylobacter jejuni / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D006801:Humans; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
chemical_list: D004269:DNA, Bacterial