title: Review of detection of Brucella spp. by polymerase chain reaction.
abstract: Here we present a review of most of the currently used polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based methods for identification of Brucella bacteria in biological samples. We focused in particular on methods using single-pair primers, multiplex primers, real-time PCRs, PCRs for marine Brucella, and PCRs for molecular biotyping. These methods are becoming very important tools for the identification of Brucella, at the species level and recently also at the biovar level. These techniques require minimum biological containment and can provide results in a very short time. In addition, genetic fingerprinting of isolates aid in epidemiological studies of the disease and its control. PCR-based methods are more useful and practical than conventional methods used to identify Brucella spp., and new methods for Brucella spp. identification and typing are still being developed. However, the sensitivity, specificity, and issues of quality control and quality assurance using these methods must be fully validated on clinical samples before PCR can be used in routine laboratory testing for brucellosis.
authors: Ottawa Laboratories (Fallowfield), Canadian Food Inspection Agency, 3851 Fallowfield Road, Nepean, Ontario, K2H 8P9, Canada.
authors: Wei Ling
authors: WL
authors: Yu
authors: Klaus
authors: K
authors: Nielsen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002002:Brucella / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D002006:Brucellosis / Q000175:diagnosis*; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D006801:Humans; D058889:Molecular Typing / Q000379:methods; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care; D011786:Quality Control; D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic / Q000592:standards; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
chemical_list: D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic