Development of a multiplex PCR assay for identification of Campylobacter coli, Campylobacter fetus, Campylobacter hyointestinalis subsp. hyointestinalis, Campylobacter jejuni, Campylobacter lari and Campylobacter upsaliensis

Abstract

A multiplex PCR assay has been developed for the identification of the six commonCampylobactertaxa associated with human gastroenteritis and/or septicaemia, namelyCampylobacter coli,Campylobacter fetus,Campylobacter hyointestinalissubsp.hyointestinalis,Campylobacter jejuni,Campylobacter lariandCampylobacter upsaliensis. The assay was developed using a combination of newly designed and published primers. It provided a specific PCR product for each of the fiveCampylobacterspecies and the one subspecies, and each of the PCR products was sufficiently distinguished by a difference in size by agarose gel electrophoresis. On evaluation of efficacy with 142Campylobacterstrains, the assay correctly identified all strains as 1 of the 6Campylobactertaxa. This multiplex PCR assay is a rapid, simple and practical tool for identification of the sixCampylobactertaxa commonly associated with gastroenteritis and/or septicaemia in humans, and offers an effective alternative to conventional biochemical-based assays.