An evaluation of the Oxoid Biochemical Identification System Campy rapid screening test for Campylobacteraceae and Helicobacter spp.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the Oxoid Biochemical Identification System (OBIS) Campy test (ID0800M) against Campylobacter; Arcobacter; and other micro-organisms, with similar colonial morphology, for the detection of l-alanine aminopeptidase (l-ALA).


RESULTS
The KOH and l-ALA (OBIS and Fluka) tests were carried out on every isolate. The procedures were followed as indicated in the OBIS and Fluka kit instructions. A total of 146 strains of 19 species of Campylobacter, seven strains of Arcobacter butzleri, four Arcobacter butzleri-like strains, 42 strains of 10 species of Helicobacter, 96 Gram-negative and 49 Gram-positive clinical isolates were tested. As expected, Campylobacter and Arcobacter strains were negative, while other Gram-negative bacteria were positive for the l-ALA test. An unexpected finding was that Helicobacter strains, although Gram-negative, were all negative for the l-ALA tests suggesting the absence of l-ALA within this genus. This is a novel finding. The absence of l-ALA was confirmed upon comparison with the available full genomic sequences of Helicobacter on the NCBI database.


CONCLUSIONS
The OBIS Campy (ID0800M) test kit proved to be rapid and accurate for the presumptive characterization of Campylobacter and Arcobacter. A novel finding was that Helicobacter species also did not have the l-ALA enzyme.


CONCLUSIONS
The OBIS kit will be useful in diagnostic laboratories for the presumptive diagnosis of Campylobacter, Arcobacter and Helicobacter strains.
Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of the Western Cape, Bellville, Cape Town, South Africa. nisreenhoosain@gmail.com
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Lastovica
D001419:Bacteria / Q000201:enzymology / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000382:microbiology*; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D001431:Bacteriological Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D018826:CD13 Antigens / Q000378:metabolism; D020565:Epsilonproteobacteria / Q000145:classification / Q000201:enzymology / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000378:metabolism; D016998:Helicobacter / Q000201:enzymology / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D006878:Hydroxides / Q000378:metabolism; D017680:Potassium Compounds / Q000378:metabolism; D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic
D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D006878:Hydroxides; D017680:Potassium Compounds; D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic; D018826:CD13 Antigens; C029943:potassium hydroxide