Comparative performance of different PCR assays for the identification of Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli

• Published in: Research in microbiology 2008-03, Vol.159 (2), p.88-93
• Main Authors: Debruyne, Lies, Samyn, Emly, De Brandt, Evie, Vandenberg, Olivier, Heyndrickx, Marc, Vandamme, Peter
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Arcobacter; Bacterial Typing Techniques; Bacteriology; Biological and medical sciences; Campylobacter coli; Campylobacter coli - genetics; Campylobacter coli - isolation & purification; Campylobacter Infections - microbiology; Campylobacter jejuni; Campylobacter jejuni - genetics; Campylobacter jejuni - isolation & purification; Campylobacter lari; Campylobacter spp; DNA, Bacterial - genetics; Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Helicobacter; Humans; Identification; Microbiology; Miscellaneous; Multiplex PCR; PCR assays; Polymerase Chain Reaction - methods; Sensitivity and Specificity
• ISSN: 0923-2508; 1769-7123
• DOI: 10.1016/j.resmic.2007.11.020

The sensitivity and specificity of 7 PCR assays described for the identification of Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli were examined using alkaline cell lysates from a collection of 100 well characterized reference strains of C. jejuni, C. coli, Campylobacter lari and related Campylobacter, Helicobacter and Arcobacter species. Based on a preliminary evaluation, one multiplex test was excluded from further evaluation. The various assays differed considerably in sensitivity and specificity towards their target species. For C. coli, 4 of the 5 assays were 100% specific and sensitive, but for C. jejuni, none of the 5 assays were found to be 100% specific or sensitive. Subsequently, a statistically valid sample (n=263) was taken from a Belgian collection of 1906 human Campylobacter field isolates. This second collection was used to further evaluate two selected multiplex PCR assays. The present study indicates that PCR-based identification using each of the two selected multiplex PCR assays was highly reliable. The R-mPCR assay, followed by species-specific PCR assays or the ceu-oxr mPCR assay if necessary, is our current strategy of choice for the molecular identification of C. jejuni and C. coli. Results presented here should aid researchers in selecting a PCR assay suitable for their specific needs.