Specific detection ofCampylobacter jejunifrom faeces using single nucleotide polymorphisms

Abstract

SUMMARYSpecimens of human faeces were tested by a rapid strategy for detection ofCampylobacter jejunilineages by the presence of specific single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) based on theC. jejunimulti locus sequence typing (MLST) scheme. This strategy was derived from analysis of the MLST databases to identify clonal complex specific SNPs followed by the design of real-time PCR assays to enable identification of six majorC. jejuniclonal complexes associated with cases of human infection. The objective was to use the MLST SNP-based assays for the direct detection ofC. jejuniby clonal complex from specimens of human faeces, and then confirm the accuracy of the clonal complex designation from the SNP-based assays by performing MLST on the cultured faecal material, this targeted at determining the validity of direct molecular specimen identification. Results showed it was possible to identify 38% of the isolates to one of the six major MLST clonal complexes using a rapid DNA extraction method directly from faeces in under 3 h. This method provides a novel strategy for the use of real-time PCR for detection and characterization beyond species level, supplying real-time epidemiological data, which is comparable with MLST results.