Multiplex PCR Assay for Unequivocal Differentiation of Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae Serovars 1 to 3, 5 to 8, 10, and 12

Serotyping of Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae is based on detection of the serotype-specific capsular antigen. However, not all isolates can be serotyped, and some may cross-react with multiple serotyping reagents. To improve sensitivity and specificity of serotyping and for early detection, a multiplex PCR assay was developed for detection of A. pleuropneumoniae and identification of serotype 5 isolates. DNA sequences specific to the conserved export and serotype-specific biosynthesis regions of the capsular polysaccharide of A. pleuropneumoniaeserotype 5 were used as primers to amplify 0.7- and 1.1-kb DNA fragments, respectively. The 0.7-kb fragment was amplified from all strains of A. pleuropneumoniae tested with the exception of serotype 4. The 0.7-kb fragment was not amplified from any heterologous species that are also common pathogens or commensals of swine. In contrast, the 1.1-kb fragment was amplified from all serotype 5 strains only. The assay was capable of amplifying DNA from less than 102 CFU. The A. pleuropneumoniaeserotype 5 capsular DNA products were readily amplified from lung tissues obtained from infected swine, although the 1.1-kb product was not amplified from some tissues stored frozen for 6 years. The multiplex PCR assay enabled us to detect A. pleuropneumoniae rapidly and to distinguish serotype 5 strains from other serotypes. The use of primers specific to the biosynthesis regions of other A. pleuropneumoniae serotypes would expand the diagnostic and epidemiologic capabilities of this assay.

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Usefulness of a Multiplex PCR for Detection of Diarrheagenic Escherichia coli in a Diagnostic Microbiology Laboratory Setting

Bangladesh Journal of Medical Microbiology ◽

10.3329/bjmm.v1i2.21506 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 1 (2) ◽

pp. 38-42 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Khairun Nessa ◽

Dilruba Ahmed ◽

Johirul Islam ◽

FM Lutful Kabir ◽

M Anowar Hossain

Keyword(s):

Escherichia Coli ◽

Multiplex Pcr ◽

Clinical Laboratory ◽

Proteinase K ◽

Microbiology Laboratory ◽

Pcr Assay ◽

E Coli ◽

Diarrheagenic Escherichia Coli ◽

Multiplex Pcr Assay ◽

Diagnostic Microbiology

A multiplex PCR assay was evaluated for diagnosis of diarrheagenic Escherichia coli in stool samples of patients with diarrhoea submitted to a diagnostic microbiology laboratory. Two procedures of DNA template preparationproteinase K buffer method and the boiling method were evaluated to examine isolates of E. coli from 150 selected diarrhoeal cases. By proteinase K buffer method, 119 strains (79.3%) of E. coli were characterized to various categories by their genes that included 55.5% enteroaggregative E. coli (EAEC), 18.5% enterotoxigenic E. coli (ETEC), 1.7% enteropathogenic E. coli (EPEC), and 0.8% Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC). Although boiling method was less time consuming (<24 hrs) and less costly (<8.0 US $/ per test) but was less efficient in typing E. coli compared to proteinase K method (41.3% vs. 79.3% ; p<0.001). The sensitivity and specificity of boiling method compared to proteinase K method was 48.7% and 87.1% while the positive and negative predictive value was 93.5% and 30.7%, respectively. The majority of pathogenic E. coli were detected in children (78.0%) under five years age with 53.3% under one year, and 68.7% of the children were male. Children under 5 years age were frequently infected with EAEC (71.6%) compared to ETEC (24.3%), EPEC (2.7%) and STEC (1.4%). The multiplex PCR assay could be effectively used as a rapid diagnostic tool for characterization of diarrheagenic E. coli using a single reaction tube in the clinical laboratory setting.Bangladesh J Med Microbiol 2007; 01 (02): 38-42

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