Development and evaluation of a multiplex PCR assay for simultaneous detection of Flavobacterium psychrophilum, Yersinia ruckeri and Aeromonas salmonicida subsp. salmonicida in culture fisheries

Bacterial cold water disease, enteric red mouth disease and frunculosis are the common bacterial diseases of fish worldwide. The etiologic agents of these diseases are Flavobacterium (F.) psychrophilum, Yersinia (Y.) ruckeri and Aeromonas (A.) salmonicida subsp. salmonicida, respectively. In this study, a multiplex polymerase chain reaction (m-PCR) method with YER8/10-Fer3/4-FP1/3 primer pairs which can identify these fish pathogens simultaneously was developed and optimized. In optimized conditions, neither false specific nor nonspecific amplification occurred. The detection limits of the m-PCR method using DNA extracts from dilutions of pure cultures of bacteria were 35 pg for Y. ruckeri and F. psychrophilum and 70 pg for A. salmonicida subsp. salmonicida. It was determined that 15 CFU Y. ruckeri and F. psychrophilum and 30 CFU A. salmonicida subsp. salmonicida could be detected by m-PCR developed using genomic DNA extracted from dilutions of the suspensions. The detection limits in the presence of tissue debris were 125 CFU for Y. ruckeri and F. psychrophilum and 250 CFU for A. salmonicida subsp. salmonicida. In conclusion, we submit that the m-PCR method developed and optimized in this study can be used for accurate and rapid identification of these bacteria.     

框镜鲤致病性维氏气单胞菌双重PCR检测方法的建立

为建立快速检测框镜鲤致病性维氏气单胞菌(A.veronii)双重PCR方法,本研究以A.veronii CY0806株和国际标准株DNA为模板,分别以16S rRNA和Aer基因特异性引物进行PCR扩增,分别获得大小约880 bp和430 bp的DNA片段。通过序列比对分析,16S rRNA基因片段、Aer片段序列与GenBank中登录的A.veronii ATCC35624株的的同源性均为99%。进一步试验显示该方法的敏感性较高,达到1.58×10-3ng/μL,特异性较强,只有A.veronii标准株及分离株结果呈阳性;人工模拟污染样本试验显示:该方法的检出率达到了86.7%,高于细菌分离培养的70%检出率。双重PCR检测方法的建立,为框镜鲤致病性A.veronii的检测提供新的方法。     

Host factors associated with the detection of Aeromonas salmonicida and Yersinia ruckeri in Ontario, Canada government fish hatcheries

This paper presents an epidemiological investigation of Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources Fish Health Laboratory data from 1981 to 1997, to determine whether fish species and age were associated with lot-level detection of Aeromonas salmonicida and Yersinia ruckeri in hatchery fish. In stepwise logistic regression, the species brook trout and back-cross (lake trout crossed with the hybrid “splake”) were more likely to test A. salmonicida-positive compared to all other species reared in the hatcheries. Similarly, the species brook trout was significantly more likely to test Y. ruckeri-positive compared to all other species. For both pathogens, the 1–5-month age group was associated significantly with detection. These findings suggest that purposive sampling of higher-risk fish lots could increase the likelihood of detecting both study pathogens.     

Blood changes in carp (Cyprinus carpio) induced by ulcerative Aeromonas salmonicida infections

Only recently Aeromonas salmonicida has been recognized as a significant bacterial pathogen in ulcerative disease of cyprinid fish. Our attempts to formulate a vaccine based on bacterial surface antigens were unsuccessful in conferring reliable protection against lethal challenge. This lead us to study pathological changes in the humoral defense system during ulcerative A. salmonicida infection in carp. High numbers of opportunist pathogens such as A. hydrophila and Pseudomonas sp. were frequently recovered from the internal organs of moribund fish, in addition to A. salmonicida. These findings together with leucopenia in moribund fish suggest that pathogenesis is characterized by a state of immune suppression. In addition, fish which had sustained a sublethal infection were not protected against a subsequent lethal challenge. However, fish previously injected with a concentrated and inactivated culture supernatant showed protection. Differential blood cell counts did not differ between experimental and control groups during sublethal infection in contrast to serum proteins. Furthermore infected non-immune carp showed a progressive decrease of immunoglobulin and total serum protein levels before the day of peak mortality whereas protected carp maintained the immunoglobulin concentration despite a decrease in protein. Our observations suggest the involvement of multiple pathogenic events, affecting different parts of the humoral defense system during ulcerative A. salmonicida infection. The immunosuppressive effects can be minimized by prior vaccination with culture supernatant.     

针对fimW基因沙门氏菌的特异性PCR检测

为建立沙门氏菌快速检测方法,本研究根据沙门氏菌Ⅰ型菌毛蛋白调控基因fimW设计一对引物,建立PCR检测方法,并对收集的A群～F群14个血清型40株沙门氏菌和5种12株非沙门氏菌菌株进行PCR扩增.结果显示所有沙门氏菌均扩增出与预期(477 bp)相符的特异性片段,而非沙门氏菌扩增结果均为阴性.另外,以肠炎沙门氏菌50336株DNA为模板,敏感性试验结果显示该方法可以检测出扩增体系中1pg DNA染色体和102cfu的沙门氏菌.表明本研究建立了检测沙门氏菌简洁、敏感、特异的PCR方法.     

Development of loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) targeting the GroEL gene for rapid detection of Riemerella anatipestifer

Riemerella anatipestifer (RA) infections cause major economic losses in the duck industry. Detection of RA using conventional assays is time-consuming and laborious. In this study, a simple and rapid assay for the detection of RA was established based on the GroEL gene sequence of RA using loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) with a set of six primers (two outer primers, two inner primers, and two loop primers). This assay was able to detect all the tested RA strains with different serotypes. A minimum of 10 colony-forming units (CFU) of RA was detected, which represents 50-fold higher sensitivity than that of the standard polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method. This assay showed good specificity to RA strains and did not react with any other species of bacteria. The assay is rapidly completed and the amplification is achieved at a minimum of 20 min at 65 C. Furthermore, the assay successfully detected RA in the liver samples of ducklings infected with RA, suggesting that the assay could be used for the clinical diagnosis of RA infection.     

LUX^TM荧光PCR快速检测沙门氏菌的研究

本研究针对沙门氏菌invA基因的保守序列,设计特异的LUX^TM荧光标记引物,通过优化反应奈件和参数,建立可快速检测沙门氏菌的LUX^TM荧光PCR检测方法。结果显示,该方法高度敏感,其对纯菌的检测低限达到10^2cfu／mL,经6h增菌培养后检测,对样品液的检测低限达到1cfu／mL;特异性强,测试的全部13株沙门氏菌标准和参考菌株均呈阳性反应,测试的全部27株非目标菌均呈阴性反应;重复性好,定量检测批内和批间的变异系数均小于2％。应用本方法检测食品样品240份,结果检出阳性4份,与TaqMan荧光PCR和SN标准检测结果完全一致。本方法可在8h内完成对样品中沙门氏菌的检测,其检测的快速性、敏感性和特异性与TaqMan荧光PCR技术相当,且检测成本较低。     

饲料中鱼源性成分定量检测的实时荧光PCR技术的建立

根据鱼线粒体DNA(mtDNA)基因组序列,选择高度保守区域设计特异性引物和TaqMan探针,通过反应条件优化,建立了饲料中鱼源性成分检测的实时荧光PCR方法.结果显示,应用该方法只能检测到鱼源性成分,表明该方法具有良好的特异性,对饲料中鱼源性成分的最低检出限为0.05%,定量检测的线性范围0.018～18.46ng.试验结果表明,该方法能对饲料中鱼源性成分进行准确、快速的检测,具有特异性好、灵敏度高的优点,对防止饲料掺假、控制进出口饲料安全具有重要意义.     

Screening for the Fish Disease Agent Aeromonas salmonicida with an Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA)

Abstract

Serological detection of bacterial pathogens in fish tissue is an important tool for surveying epidemiological situations. Whenever antibacterial treatment of fish is recommended, it becomes necessary, however, to culture the pathogen for sensitivity testing. An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was developed to identify Aeromonas salmonicida in culture. This serological identification can partly substitute for biochemical characterization of the organism and thus decrease the time between isolation and sensitivity testing by at least 3 d. The ELISA works with only one bacterial colony and yields results within 4 h. During this time, a bacterial suspension can be prepared for the resistance test. The specificity of an antiserum, raised in rabbits, against whole cells of A. salmonicida can be increased by adsorption with strains of cross-reacting species. However, difficulties arise when serologically heterogeneous species (e.g., A. hydrophila) are used as the cross-reacting bacterium. In the present study, severalfold adsorption with four isolates did not totally rule out cross-reactivity against additional strains. Therefore, the strain in question should also be checked for colony morphology, production of pigment, or presence of cytochrome oxidase to validate the serologically obtained result.     

牛分枝杆菌特异性基因的PCR扩增及二联PCR反应的建立

为了研究牛结核病的PCR诊断方法,本研究以牛分枝杆茵(M.bovis)Vallee111株染色体DNA为模板,以RecA和Ppsl基因特异性引物进行PCR扩增,获得约860 bp和430 bp的DNA片段.将PCR纯化产物进行测序,通过BLAST序列分析,与GenBank中登录的M.bovis AF2122/97 RecA基因和Ppsl基因的核苷酸序列同源性均达到99%.在同一PCR反应中同时加入RecA和Ppsl基因特异性引物建立RecA-Pps1二联PCR反应.同时,RecA和Ppsl PCR扩增的敏感性分别达到585 fg和195 fg,特异性均达到100%,为进一步研究RecA和Ppsl基因以及其在牛结核病诊断中的应用奠定了基础.     

Development of multiplex PCR assay for simultaneous detection of five bacterial fish pathogens

A multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method was designed for the simultaneous detection of the five major fish pathogens, Aeromonas hydrophila, Aeromonas salmonicida subsp. salmonicida, Flavobacterium columnare, Renibacterium salmoninarum, and Yersinia ruckeri. Each of the five pairs of oligonucleotide primers exclusively amplified the targeted gene of the specific microorganism. The detection limits of the multiplex PCR was in the range of 2, 1, 1, 3, and 1CFU for A. hydrophila, A. salmonicida, F. columnare, R. salmoninarum, and Y. ruckeri, respectively. Multiplex PCR did not produce any nonspecific amplification products when tested against 23 related species of bacteria. The multiplex PCR assay was useful for the detection of the bacteria in naturally infected fish. This assay is a sensitive and specific and reproducible diagnostic tool for the simultaneous detection of five pathogenic bacteria that cause disease in fish. Therefore, it could be a useful alternative to the conventional culture based method.     

黄河裸裂尻生长激素(GH)基因的PCR扩增和克隆

为了克隆黄河裸裂尻生长激素(GH)基因并获得表达产物,试验采用异硫氰酸胍法提取黄河裸裂尻脑组织总RNA,以分离的RNA为模板,采用RT-PCR扩增获得GH基因cDNA,将cDNA插入质粒pQE30中,并在大肠杆菌RB791中表达,经异丙基-β-D-硫代吡喃半乳糖苷(IPTG)诱导后,SDS-PAGE电泳检测蛋白的表达情况。结果表明:扩增后黄河裸裂尻GH基因长度为508 bp,黄河裸裂尻GH基因与青海湖裸鲤的同源性很高,电泳显示出1条新的分子质量约为14.4 ku的特异性条带。     

Effect of an immunopotentiator on Aeromonas salmonicida infection in rainbow trout (Salmo gairdneri)

The immunoactive peptide FK-565 (heptanoyl-y-D-glutamyl-(L)-mesodiaminopimelyl-(D)-alanine) was found to induce protection against intraperitoneal Aeromonas salmonicida infection in rainbow trout (Salmo gairdneri Richardson). The survival rate was as high as 60% when FK-565 was given intraperitoneally as a single dose (1mg/kg) one day before bacterial challenge. A non-specific stimulation of phagocytic cells by FK-565 at an early stage of the bacterial infection may contribute to the resistance observed. The phagocytic activity of peritoneal phagocytic cells as well as phagocytic cells of the pronephros were stimulated by FK-565 in vivo and in vitro, respectively, as compared to untreated control fish. Furthermore, decreased activity of phagocytic cells previously immunosuppressed with cyclophosphamide was rapidly restored by application of FK-565.     

Utility of the Cryptosporidium oocyst wall protein (COWP) gene in a nested PCR approach for detection infection in cattle

A preliminary molecular epidemiological study was carried out to investigate the utility of the Cryptosporidium oocyst wall protein (COWP) gene in the detection of Cryptosporidium oocysts in fecal samples. A nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) approach using COWP gene primers was adopted for this purpose. Fecal samples were spiked with each of 1, 10, and 100 oocysts of C. parvum, four samples for each number, and the DNA was extracted from each sample using a glassbead method. The presence of oocysts was determined using the nested PCR with COWP gene primers, and the limit of detection of oocysts by the PCR was determined. The limit of detection was 100 oocysts spiked in 1 ml of fecal material (50% sold material) (four positives/four samples tested). Seventy-five percent of DNA extracted samples spiked with 1 and 10 oocysts was positive by the PCR (three positives/four samples tested). Based on this, small sample size using the COWP gene primers with a nested PCR analysis could reliably identify infected animals rather conveniently and accurately.     

结核杆菌多位点环介导等温扩增检测方法的建立

为建立一种快速、高敏感、高特异、鉴别结核分枝杆菌和牛分枝杆菌的方法,本研究根据大多数致病性结核分枝杆菌共有序列esat-6,结核分枝杆菌和牛分枝杆菌gyrB共有特异性序列,以及结核分枝杆菌种特异序列mtp40设计6对特异性引物对痰液中的结核分枝杆菌进行检测,并与鉴别培养基分离培养结果以及常规PCR鉴定结果进行比较。实验结果表明,建立的LAMP检测方法具有很高的特异性。可区分致病性结核分枝杆菌和非致病结核分枝杆菌,也可鉴别结核分枝杆菌和牛分枝杆菌。LAMP检测技术的灵敏度比经典PCR技术高100倍左右,可检测到7拷贝/反应。另外,用3种方法同时检测样品发现,LAMP与细菌培养的符合率为90.91%,LAMP与常规PCR检测结果的符合率为100%。LAMP检测方法可以在流行病学调查及现场快速诊断方面广泛应用,并为临床治疗提供依据。     

Specific detection of Histomonas meleagridis in turkeys by a PCR assay with an internal amplification control

Histomoniasis or blackhead is a disease of gallinaceous birds, caused by the protozoon Histomonas meleagridis. Since traditional diagnostics for the detection of this disease are complex and far less sensitive than molecular tools, a PCR would provide a more rapid and sensitive alternative. However, intestinal material and droppings, which are preferably used in epidemiological studies of histomoniasis, often contain PCR inhibitory substances. To detect these false negative results, the use of an internal amplification control is essential. Nevertheless, the recently developed PCR tests lack this internal control. Therefore, a new PCR assay with H. meleagridis specific primers was developed which does include an internal amplification control. The diagnostic value of the PCR assay was evaluated in comparison to three other conventional H. meleagridis specific PCR tests (HIS5, HM1 and HM2). None of the organ samples originating from uninfected turkeys, showed positive PCR results in any of the tests. Among the lesion-positive, inhibition-free samples, 95.4% were positive by our PCR assay, while only 50, 66.7 and 83.3% of the lesion-positive organs tested positive by the HM1, the HIS5 and the HM2 PCR respectively. In conclusion, our PCR offers the use of the internal control to detect false negative results and an increased sensitivity, and thus should be useful for routine diagnosis of H. meleagridis in poultry.