title: Direct detection of Campylobacter jejuni in human stool samples by real-time PCR.
abstract: Our purpose was to establish a quick and accurate real-time PCR (rtPCR) method to detect Campylobacter jejuni directly from human diarrheal stool as an alternative to traditional culture methods. To determine the consistency of rtPCR and culture method, 256 clinical diarrheal stool samples and 50 normal stool samples from healthy individuals were examined, and the whole process was double-blinded. Our data showed that the sensitivity of rtPCR in pure cultures and stool was 102 CFU x mL-1 and 103 CFU x g-1, respectively. Of the 256 diarrheal samples, 10 specimens were successfully detected by both methods, whereas two specimens were PCR positive but culture negative. No positive results were found by these two methods in 50 normal specimens. Our data suggested that rtPCR was convenient in operation and time-saving (turnaround time 3.5-4 h), so it could be used for clinical diagnostic and epidemiological purposes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Nan Fang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangdong 510515, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Shiyong
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Xinying
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Haoxuan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.forename: Zhengguo
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Mao
authors.forename: Yong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Bo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Jiang
mesh_terms: D002169:Campylobacter Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology*; D016123:Campylobacter jejuni / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology*; D006801:Humans; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity