Rapid virulence typing of Pasteurella multocida by multiplex PCR

The gram-negative bacterium Pasteurella multocida constitutes a heterogeneous species associated with wide range of disease in many animals. Isolates are classified into five groups based on capsular antigen (capA, B, D, E and F). Recently, a new valuable PCR-based method was introduced to determine the epidemiological correlation between P. multocida infection and existence of virulence genes including tbpA, pfhA, toxA and hgbB. However, this method is tedious and laborious. Thus, in the current study, we designed a reliable multiplex PCR method for rapid detection of virulence genes in P. multocida. Eighty seven strains of P. multocida isolated from various clinically healthy and infected hosts were examined by uniplex PCR method for each virulence associated genes. Based on our improved and simplified multiplex PCR method, rapid detection of four virulence genes was accomplished. It is proposed that its implementation may benefit the epidemiological investigations.     

产气荚膜梭菌多重PCR定型方法的建立及其应用

建立了多重PCR检测产气荚膜梭菌α、β、ε和ι毒素基因的方法。该方法具有良好的特异性和敏感性,只有产气荚膜梭菌呈现阳性,被检验的其他梭菌以及大肠杆菌、葡萄球菌均为阴性;将肉汤菌液样品10倍系列稀释后进行检测,检测灵敏度达到1.2×104CFU/mL。收集40份牛粪便样品,进行PCR检测,32份样品中成功扩增出589 bp的α毒素基因片段,阳性率为80%。结果显示,建立的多重PCR检测方法可取代血清中和试验,用于产气荚膜梭菌分型,同时表明A型产气荚膜梭菌在当地奶牛场中较为普遍。     

Rapid virulence typing of Pasteurella multocida by multiplex PCR

The gram-negative bacterium Pasteurella multocida constitutes a heterogeneous species associated with wide range of disease in many animals. Isolates are classified into five groups based on capsular antigen (capA, B, D, E and F). Recently, a new valuable PCR-based method was introduced to determine the epidemiological correlation between P. multocida infection and existence of virulence genes including tbpA, pfhA, toxA and hgbB. However, this method is tedious and laborious. Thus, in the current study, we designed a reliable multiplex PCR method for rapid detection of virulence genes in P. multocida. Eighty seven strains of P. multocida isolated from various clinically healthy and infected hosts were examined by uniplex PCR method for each virulence associated genes. Based on our improved and simplified multiplex PCR method, rapid detection of four virulence genes was accomplished. It is proposed that its implementation may benefit the epidemiological investigations.     

An optimized DNA extraction and multiplex PCR for the detection of Fasciola sp. in lymnaeid snails

This study deals with the development and validation of an original PCR protocol to assess the presence of Fasciola hepatica in Galba truncatula its main intermediate host in Western Europe. In the present study two DNA extraction techniques are compared and a new multiplex PCR is described. The Chelex(?) DNA extraction technique showed to be more appropriate than the classical Phenol/Chloroform/Proteinase K based method because of the absence of toxic organic solvent, shorter duration and lower cost, and a higher reproducibility regarding DNA concentrations and wavelength ratios. The multiplex PCR was set up to amplify the lymnaeid internal transcribed spacer 2 sequence (500-600 bp) that act as an internal control and a 124 bp Fasciola sp. sequence that is repeated more than 300,000 times in fluke whole genome. Ninety six snails were pooled and 6 snails (6.25%) found positive for Fasciola sp. The limit of detection is lower than the minimal biological infestation unit (one miracidium). DNA extracts from Paramphistomum daubneyi, Dicrocoelium lanceolatum, and Fascioloides magna did not cross react.     

Bacterial typing methods suitable for epidemiological analysis. applications in investigations of salmonellosis among livestock

Summary

The ability to subtype bacteria by typing methods provides the bacteriologist with a powerful means to identify relationships between bacteria. This knowledge is used to identify routes of disease transmission among livestock and from livestock to humans. In the present paper, the principles of bacterial typing and the most commonly applied typing methods for use in veterinary public health are discussed in the context of their application in the investigation of salmonella epidemiology. Typing methods are now routinely used in most investigations on this subject and have provided insight into routes of transmission, reservoirs of infection and mechanisms of persistent infection.

Under the EC order on zoonotic diseases, extended surveillance on the presence of zoonotic bacteria in livestock must be expected. To receive the maximum benefits of this surveillance, selected typing methods must be applied to all isolates of e.g. salmonella. At present, serotyping, and phage typing where applicable, are the most obvious choices for continuous surveillance of this organism. Random amplification of polymorphic DNA (PCR based typing) may have the potential for allocating strains into relevant groups quicker and without the requirement for additional manpower, and this method may be preferred in future.     

Virulence genotyping of Salmonella spp. with multiplex PCR

The purpose of this study was to develop a multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) protocol useful in the virulence genotyping of Salmonella spp. with the idea that genotyping could augment current Salmonella characterization and typing methods. Seventeen genes associated with Salmonella invasion, fimbrial production, toxin production, iron transport, and intramacrophage survival were targeted by three PCR reactions. Most of these genes are required for full Salmonella virulence in a murine model, and many are also located on Salmonella pathogenicity islands (PAIs) and are associated with type III secretion systems (TTSSs). Once the success of procedures that used positive and negative control strains was verified, the genotypes of 78 Salmonella isolates incriminated in avian salmonellosis (primarily from sick, commercially reared chickens and turkeys) and 80 Salmonella isolates from apparently healthy chickens or turkeys were compared. Eleven of the 17 genes tested (invA, orgA, prgH, tolC, spaN [invJ], sipB, sitC, pagC, msgA, spiA, and iroN) were found in all of the isolates. Another (sopB) was present in all isolates from sick birds and all but one isolate from healthy birds. The remaining five genes (lpfC, cdtB, sifA, pefA, and spvB) were found in 10%-90% of the isolates from sick birds and 3.75%-90% of the healthy birds. No significant differences in the occurrence of these genes between the two groups of isolates were detected. These results suggest that these virulence genes, and presumably the PAls and TTSSs with which they are associated, are widely distributed among Salmonella isolates of birds, regardless of whether their hosts of origin have been identified as having salmonellosis.     

New Bruce-ladder multiplex PCR assay for the biovar typing of Brucella suis and the discrimination of Brucella suis and Brucella canis

Rapid and specific identification of Brucella suis at the biovar level is necessary because some of the biovars that infect animals are pathogenic for humans. None of the molecular typing methods described so far are able to discriminate B. suis biovars in a single test and differentiation of B. suis from Brucella canis by molecular approaches can be difficult. This article describes a new multiplex PCR assay, Suis-ladder, for fast and accurate identification of B. suis at the biovar level and the differentiation of B. suis, B. canis and Brucella microti. An advancement of the original Bruce-ladder PCR protocol which allows the correct discrimination of all known Brucella species is also described.     

A male linkage map constructed for QTL mapping in Spanish Churra sheep.

A male ovine linkage map has been constructed on the basis of 11 half-sib families of a commercial population of Spanish Churra sheep as part of a genome scan for quantitative trait loci mapping. A total of 1421 daughters and their sires were genotyped for 182 microsatellite markers evenly distributed along the ovine autosomes. A total of 259,192 genotypes were obtained, generating an average of 669 informative meioses per marker. An autosomal genome length of 3262 cM was estimated for the Churra population with a mean marker interval of 17.86 cM. Our map represents an approximate 90% coverage of the autosomal ovine genome and constitutes a useful tool for the genetic dissection of complex traits in this breed. General agreement was found between the Churra map and other published maps for sheep, despite certain length discrepancies.     

禽流感H5、H7和H9亚型多重PCR方法的建立

为了建立能够同时检测禽流感H5、H7和H9亚型的多重PCR检测方法,本文分别针对各病毒亚型的HA基因高度保守序列设计了3对特异性引物。通过对反应条件的优化,成功建立了在一个反应中同时检测禽流感H5、H7和H9亚型的多重PCR诊断方法。根据其敏感性的结果可知,该方法对这3种亚型病毒的最低核酸检测量均为1×10~4拷贝/μL,且该方法特异性良好,具有灵敏、快速、成本低等优点,对禽流感病毒的流行病学调查具有指导意义。     

Fine mapping of a QTL for intramuscular fat on porcine chromosome 6 using combined linkage and linkage disequilibrium mapping

In this study data from a commercial Norwegian slaughter pig cross was analysed to confirm a previous reported quantitative trait locus (QTL) affecting intramuscular fat (IMF) on porcine chromosome 6. The data consisted of an old experiment, in which the QTL was previously detected, and new experimental data from the Norwegian slaughter pig cross. The old and new experimental data were analysed separately and together. A previously described method combining linkage and linkage disequilibrium analysis (LDLA) was used for the analysis, but this method assumes that all animals are descendants from a common base population, which is not realistic in a cross between different breeds. An adjusted version of the method, able to distinguish between different breeds in the cross, is presented here. Using the LDLA method, we were not able to confirm the QTL in the old experimental data, because the genetic variance could be explained by the polygenic effect. Analysis from the new experimental data did however detect the QTL, and analysing the data from both experiments together gave highly significant results for a QTL (p < 0.001) between markers SW1355 and SW1823. The main conclusion is therefore that the previously reported QTL for IMF on porcine chromosome 6 was confirmed within a 8.7‐cM confidence interval.     

鉴定猪产毒素大肠杆菌多重PCR方法的建立

根据GenBank数据库的基因序列建立了一种快速鉴定仔猪产毒素致病性大肠杆菌 3种常见毒素LTⅠ、STa和VT2e的多重PCR方法。将待检样本接种麦康凯琼脂平板 ,然后挑取单一的红色菌落直接作模板 ,加入预混好的PCR反应液进行PCR即可对产生这 3种毒素的猪大肠杆菌进行鉴定。 3种毒素基因的PCR产物的大小分别是 2 83bp、2 2 1bp和 4 87bp。     

鸡胚胎性病原茵多重PCR检测方法的建立

为建立同时检测禽波氏杆菌(Bordetella avium)、沙门氏茵(Salmonella)、大肠杆菌(Escherichia coli)和绿脓杆菌(Pseudomonas aeruginosa)4种导致鸡胚死亡病原菌的多重PCR方法,本研究根据B.aviun的ompA基因、Salmonella的invA基因、E.coli的phoA基因和P.aeruginosa的toxR基因序列,各设计一对特异性引物进行多重PCR反应,并对反应体系和条件进行优化.结果显示,4对引物分别扩增出597bp、724bp、372bp和278bp的目的条带;并且特异性强不与其他非目的茵发生反应.经优化B.aviun、P.aeruginosa和E.coli多重PCR检测灵敏度达到104cfu/mL,而Salmonella为103cfu/mL.本研究建立的多重PCR方法为相关病原茵的快速检测提供方法.     

牛分枝杆菌三重PCR检测方法的建立

为建立快速检测牛分枝杆菌(M.bovis)的三重PCR方法,本研究以M bovis ValleeⅢ株染色体DNA 为模板,分别以其recA、IS6110、IS1081基因特异性引物进行PCR扩增,建立检测M.bovis的recA-IS6110-IS1081三重PCR反应.通过PCR扩增获得大小约为860 bp、520bp和340 bp的DNA片段.BLAST序列分析表明,这3个基因片段与GenBank中登录的相关基因的核苷酸序列同源性均达到99%.同时,recA、IS6110和IS1081PCR扩增的敏感性分别达到585fg、19.5fg和19.5fg.特异性较强,只有M.bovis和人结核临床分离株扩增反应为阳性,为进一步研究recA、IS6110和IS1081基因以及其在牛结核病诊断中的应用奠定了基础.     

Diagnostic multiplex PCR for toxin genotyping of Clostridium perfringens isolates

In this study we provide a protocol for genotyping Clostridium perfringens with a new multiplex PCR. This PCR enables reliable and specific detection of the toxin genes cpa, cpb, etx, iap, cpe and cpb2 from heat lysed bacterial suspensions. The efficiency of the protocol was demonstrated by typing C. perfringens reference strains and isolates from veterinary bacteriological routine diagnostic specimens.     

羊痘病毒多重PCR检测方法的建立

根据羊痘病毒（CaPV）末端反向重复序列中的一段序列和P32基因序列,设计合成了2对引物,通过确定最佳的PCR反应条件,建立了检测羊痘病毒核酸的多重PCR方法。结果显示,用这2对引物均能扩增出羊痘病毒相应的特异性片段,而用此PCR方法检测口蹄疫病毒和羊口疮病毒,结果均为阴性。与中和试验比较,建立的PCR方法具有更好的敏感性。表明,该PCR方法可对组织病料中的CaPV进行快速检测。     

产气荚膜梭菌型特异性多重PCR的研究

建立了一种简单且具有型特异性的产气荚膜梭菌的多重PCR诊断方法.结果表明,该PCR特异性好,只有产气荚膜梭菌呈现阳性,被检验的其他7种梭菌以及大肠杆菌、葡萄球菌和多杀性巴氏杆菌均为阴性.该PCR具有较高的敏感性,最小检测量为4.2×105 CFU/mL,单个菌落稀释10倍后也能被检测出,适用于医院、防疫和兽医诊断等部门,具有重要的公共卫生意义.     

猪链球菌病双重PCR诊断方法的建立

根据猪链球菌2型荚膜多糖和马链球菌兽疫亚种类M蛋白的保守区序列分别设计了2对简并引物,建立了一种能同时检测猪链球菌2型和马链球菌兽疫亚种的双重PCR方法。结果显示,该双重PCR能从100个细菌的混合纯培养物中扩增出2条目的片段。而且可以直接从病料组织中检测到相应的病原菌。用建立的双重PCR方法和细菌分离培养法平行检测人工感染的组织病料,PCR方法与细菌培养法的阳性检出率基本一致,但PCR方法的特异性好、敏感性高,简便易行,可以用于猪链球菌病的流行病学调查和实验室的快速鉴别诊断。     

A large scale mastitis control programme in Somerset.

The results of a mastitis control programme operated in south west England for three years are given. Farmers participating in the full mastitis control group agreed to treat each cow at drying off with 500 mg benzathine cloxacillin in each quarter, to have their milking machines tested and to correct any faults, and to practise teat dipping. Data covering cell counts, milk production, milk quality and clinical mastitis, were assessed from herds taking part in the programme. Cell counts were analysed from all 507 herds taking part in the programme. Milk production records for the full mastitis control group (188 herds) over a three year period are discussed, and these results compared with milk production figures from Milk Marketing Board records from herds in the south west of England which were carrying out no specific mastitis control programme. The milk quality data compare the findings in 159 herds in the full mastitis control programme with those in 247 herds in the partial and no mastitis control groups. Cases of clinical mastitis during the three year period were recorded in 73 herds in the full mastitis control group. The problems of applying the control routines are presented with observations on clinical mastitis, bulk milk cell count, milk production and milk quality. After three years, herds in the programme had on average increased milk production by 75 gallons a cow, achieved a 14.6 per cent reduction in the incidence of clinical mastitis, and improved the milk total solids percentage by one milk quality payment class.     

食品中常见病原菌多重PCR检测方法的建立

根据基因库中沙门氏菌、空肠弯曲杆菌、单核细胞增生李斯特菌和大肠杆菌O157：H7的invA、MapA、hlyA和O gene cluster基因分别设计了4对引物,通过对反应条件的优化,建立了同时检测4种病原菌的多重PCR方法。结果表明,该多重PCR方法可扩增出四条特异性条带,并且任意两条产物片段长度相差大于20％。多重PCR反应体系检测四种病原菌混合模板最低含量为100 CFU。该多重PCR检测方法具有快速、准确和特异性强的优点,可用于快速检测食品中的病原菌。