SPECIES-SPECIFIC DETECTION OF CAMPYLOBACTERS IMPORTANT IN VETERINARY-MEDICINE BY PCR AMPLIFICATION OF 23S RDNA AREAS

A species-specific PCR assay was developed for the detection oi campylobacters important in veterinary medicine, including Campylobacter fetus, Campylobacter hyointestinalis and Campylobacter mucosalis. Specific primers were also developed for the non-pathogenic Campylobacter sputorum. The PCR assays were based on a target sequence which comprises the most variable areas of 23S rDNA. The developed PCR assays were evaluated on a broad selection of Campylobacter strains and phylogenetically related bacteria. Each of the four primer pairs allowed the selective detection oi all the strains belonging to the species Campylobacter fetus, Campylobacter hyointestinalis, Campylobacter mucosalis and Campylobacter sputorum.