家兔支气管败血波氏杆菌重组百日咳杆菌粘附素（PRN）蛋白的原核表达及其间接ELISA方法的建立

目的表达支气管败血波氏杆菌（Bordetella bronchiseptica,Bb）PRN蛋白,并以此建立检测Bb抗体的间接ELISA方法。方法参照GenBank公布的猪源支气管败血波氏杆菌prn基因序列（AY376325）设计了一对特异性引物,PCR扩增出相应的核苷酸片段。将PCR扩增产物连接至原核表达载体pGEX-4T-1中,以E.coli BL21（DE3）为表达菌株进行诱导表达,以纯化重组蛋白PRN作为诊断抗原,通过探索最佳抗原包被量和抗体血清稀释倍数等,建立检测支气管败血波氏杆菌抗体的间接ELISA方法。结果成功克隆了prn全基因序列,并在E.coliBL21（DE3）中获得高效表达,经SDS-PAGE、Western blot分析显示重组蛋白PRN具有良好的抗原性。应用重组蛋白PRN为抗原建立了检测Bb血清抗体的间接ELISA诊断方法。试验确定重组蛋白PRN抗原的包被浓度为500ng/mL,最适血清稀释度为1∶40。结论建立的ELISA检测方法,不仅为Bb抗体检测提供了实用的血清学检测手段,也为进一步开发Bb检测试剂盒奠定了基础。     

家兔支气管败血波氏杆菌重组蛋白DNT1的原核表达及其间接ELISA方法的建立

目的表达支气管败血波氏杆菌（Bordetella bronchiseptica,Bb）DNT蛋白,并以此建立检测Bb抗体的间接ELISA方法。方法参照GenBank公布的猪源支气管败血波氏杆菌dnt基因序列（AB020025）针对其N-端设计了一对特异性引物,PCR扩增出相应的核苷酸片段。将PCR扩增产物连接至原核表达载体pET-28a（＋）载体中,以E.coli BL21（DE3）为表达菌株进行诱导表达,以纯化重组蛋白DNT1作为诊断抗原,通过探索最佳抗原包被量和抗体血清稀释倍数,建立检测支气管败血波氏杆菌重组蛋白DNT1抗体的ELISA方法。结果成功克隆了dntN-端的基因序列,并在E.coli BL21（DE3）中获得高效表达,经SDS-PAGE、Western blot分析显示重组蛋白DNT1具有良好的抗原性。应用重组蛋白DNT1为抗原建立了检测Bb血清抗体的间接ELISA诊断方法。试验确定重组蛋白DNT1抗原的包被浓度为6.25μg/mL,最适血清稀释度为1∶100。结论建立的ELISA检测方法,不仅为Bb抗体检测提供了一种比较实用的血清学检测手段,也为进一步开发Bb检测试剂盒奠定了基础。     

兔支气管败血波氏杆菌单克隆抗体的制备及鉴定

目的建立能稳定分泌抗兔支气管败血波氏杆菌（Bb）的单克隆抗体杂交瘤细胞株,为今后进一步建立该菌的免疫检测技术奠定基础。方法以Bb分离株BLJ05的灭活菌液为免疫原,腹腔免疫BALB/c小鼠,采用常规杂交瘤技术制备Bb单克隆抗体（McAb）,用间接ELISA、Western-blot等方法对McAb特性进行鉴定。结果获得两株能稳定分泌抗Bb单克隆抗体的杂交瘤细胞株,分别命名为A7D5和D6B2,其小鼠腹水抗体效价分别为1∶409600和1∶102400;且不与兔大肠杆菌、多杀性巴氏杆菌、产气荚膜梭菌等兔的常见病原菌反应,特异性强。两株单抗亲和力实验表明A7D5亲和力略高于D6B2。ELISA相加试验表明它们针对相同的抗原表位。结论成功建立了两株能稳定分泌抗兔支气管败血波氏杆菌单克隆抗体的杂交瘤细胞株,效价高、特异性强,为今后建立该菌的免疫检测技术建立奠定了基础。     

复合探针荧光定量PCR法检测布鲁氏菌的实验研究

目的：建立用复合探针荧光定量PCR快速检测布鲁氏菌的方法。方法：研究根据BSCP31基因编码31KDa的布鲁氏杆菌表面蛋白的核苷酸序列设计特异引物,通过PCR法的特异性、灵敏度和重复性研究,建立了复合探针荧光定量PCR检测布鲁氏菌的方法。用于布鲁氏菌病的筛选和诊断。结果：结果表明该检测方法的特异性为100％,最低可检出10个拷贝的质粒DNA分子,可对1×10^1-1×10^6拷贝范围内的模板进行定量,最低可检测至1×10^2CFU／ml细菌。该方法的精密度好,阳性质控品和阴性质控品不同时间测定三次及同一时间五次重复实验结果CV值均小于5％。结论：本研究建立的复合探针实时荧光定量PCR检测布鲁氏杆菌的方法,可对布鲁氏病原菌进行快速检测,对布病的筛选和确诊具有重要意义。     

大鼠冠状病毒和仙台病毒的双重PCR检测方法的建立与应用

目的建立快速检测实验大鼠冠状病毒和仙台病毒的双重PCR方法。方法根据大鼠冠状病毒N基因、仙台病毒L基因设计特异性引物;经过双重PCR优化,特异性和敏感性的检测,建立双重PCR体系。应用该PCR体系检测人工感染仙台病毒组织DNA样本和实验动物组织样本,并与ELISA方法比对。结果双重PCR扩增出大鼠冠状病毒(168 bp)和仙台病毒(262 bp)目的条带,PCR扩增产物测序结果利用核酸BLAST功能进行同源序列对比,仙台病毒和大鼠冠状病毒同源性分别为100%和99%。仙台病毒和大鼠冠状病毒的检测下限为1.56×10~2 copies/μL。特异性检测对小鼠肝炎病毒扩增,产生片段大小近似大鼠冠状病毒产物。应用建立的双重PCR体系检测人工感染仙台病毒组织DNA样本,30份DNA标本均被检出;检测94份实验动物肺组织样本,结果均阴性。结论建立的双重PCR方法操作简单、快速、特异性强、灵敏度高,能够实现对实验动物仙台病毒和大鼠冠状病毒病原体的快速检测。     

猪源支气管败血波氏杆菌百日咳杆菌黏附素基因的原核表达及其抗体检测ELISA方法

[目的]以猪源支气管败血波氏杆菌(Bordetella bronchiseptica,Bb)百日咳杆菌黏附素(PRN)基因的原核表达产物为抗原建立检测PRN抗体的间接ELISA方法.[方法和结果]利用谷胱甘肽-S-转移酶(GST)表达系统对PRN基因在大肠杆菌中进行融合表达.SDS-PAGE和Western blot检测证实该基因获得高效表达,产物易于纯化且具有良好的免疫学活性.通过凝血酶酶切GST-PRN并回收,获得不含GST载体蛋白的PRN蛋白片段.以PRN蛋白片段为抗原建立检测天然PRN抗体的间接ELISA方法.该方法对猪巴氏杆菌病等7种常见细菌性疾病阳性血清的检测结果均为阴性,其敏感性比乳胶凝集试验提高4～128倍,能检测到人工感染14 d后的仔猪血清抗体IgG,对临床送检的1,229份猪血清的检测阳性率为32.7%.ELISA方法对阳性猪场的监测结果预示了保育期仔猪的合群导致猪群大量感染支气管败血波氏杆菌.[结论]该方法具有特异性强、敏感性高、重复性好的特点,可用于猪群PRN抗体水平监测和猪波氏菌病流行病学调查.     

乳及乳制品中阪崎肠杆菌PCR-DHPLC检测新技术的建立

为了应用PCR结合变性高效液相色谱(DHPLC)技术建立食品中阪崎肠杆菌的快速检测方法,根据阪崎肠杆菌16S-23S rRNA特异基因序列的特点设计特异性引物,PCR扩增的产物经DHPLC技术进行快速检测.以阪崎肠杆菌等59株参考菌株做特异性试验;阪崎肠杆菌菌株稀释成不同梯度,做灵敏度试验,结果表明该方法具有很好的特异性,方法灵敏度较高,检测低限可达到为25 CFU/mL;该方法可以快速、准确检测阪崎肠杆菌,是食品中致病菌快速检测的新技术.     

环介导等温可视扩增检测牛分枝杆菌方法的建立

目的:建立一种快速简便检测牛分枝杆菌的方法。方法:根据已发表的牛分枝杆菌特殊基因序列,设计并合成6对特异扩增牛分枝杆菌特异性基因片段的引物,通过条件优化,建立针对牛分枝杆菌的环介导等温扩增(LAMP)检测法,测定其特异性和敏感性,并对采集的牛临床样品的DNA分别进行检测。结果:采用该法只检出牛分枝杆菌,检测的最低拷贝数为1×102拷贝/μL。结论:建立的LAMP方法简便、快速、特异性高,可用于临床上牛分枝杆菌的快速检测。     

产肠毒素大肠杆菌快速检测方法的建立和评价

目的利用环介导等温扩增(LAMP)技术,建立产肠毒素大肠杆菌(ETEC)的快速、便捷、敏感、特异的检测方法,并对该方法的特异性和敏感性进行评价,为实验动物检测和细菌性腹泻的诊断提供技术支持。方法根据GenBank公布的产肠毒素大肠杆菌的LT毒素基因序列(S60731.1)设计外引物和内引物进行LAMP扩增,对LAMP特异性和敏感性与PCR方法做比较。结果建立的LAMP方法检测最低浓度为100 pg/μL,灵敏度是PCR的10倍以上并具有较高的特异性,利用该方法对27份猴腹泻样品进行LAMP和PCR方法检测,发现PCR检出率为33.3%,LAMP(60 min内)结果与PCR相同,而LAMP(90 min内)检出率为92.6%,约是PCR检出率的3倍。结论建立了一种用于检测肠毒性大肠杆菌(ETEC)的LAMP检测方法,该方法特异性强,灵敏度高,方便快捷,适合于ETEC临床快速检测。     

林麝源支气管败血波氏杆菌FMDBb1株的分离鉴定及全基因组序列分析

[背景] 呼吸系统疾病是圈养麝常见疾病之一,其中部分由支气管败血波氏杆菌引起,但目前关于林麝源支气管败血波氏杆菌的研究甚少。[目的] 对分离自患病林麝鼻黏液的一株疑似支气管败血波氏杆菌进行分离鉴定和全基因组序列分析,为林麝相关疾病的防治奠定基础。[方法] 将病原菌纯化培养后,通过菌落形态和生化试验初步鉴定病原菌类型,然后进行药敏试验和小鼠致病性试验以观察其耐药和毒力表型,最后对其进行全基因组测序,通过平均核苷酸一致性（Average Nucleotide Identity,ANI）比对在全基因组水平进一步评估物种间的亲缘关系,并进行基因功能注释和遗传进化分析。[结果] 该病原菌经ANI分类属于经典波氏杆菌亚种,结合菌落形态和生化结果综合鉴定为支气管败血波氏杆菌,菌株命名为FMDBb1,药敏表型显示其对林可霉素、利福平及大多数β-内酰胺类抗生素耐药,对小鼠的半数致死量为8.55×10⁶ CFU。全基因组测序显示该菌基因组大小为5 133 936 bp,基因功能注释显示其拥有强代谢能力,基因组内检测到65个经典波氏杆菌毒力因子,以及1个粉霉素和1个利福平的靶向耐药基因,同时发现19个插入序列和1个噬菌体区域的存在。序列类型为ST33,克隆复合体类型为CC6,管家基因联合建树分析显示与分离于韩国短毛猫的KVNON-570株相似性最高。[结论] 研究分离了林麝源支气管败血波氏杆菌并对其进行了全基因组测序及分析,为该病原菌感染的防治提供了宝贵的信息。     

鼠疫菌PsaA抗原的表达及抗体制备和应用

目的：制备鼠疫菌PsaA抗原及抗体,建立针对PsaA抗体的快速检测方法,并检测鼠疫感染猴血清标本中的PsaA抗体的阳性率。方法：利用PCR方法扩增出PsaA蛋白基因片段,在大肠杆菌原核表达系统中表达出重组PsaA抗原,以镍柱亲和层析纯化包涵体形式的表达蛋白,以尿素梯度透析复性成可溶蛋白。再以表达蛋白为免疫原,常规免疫家兔,收集兔血清制备多抗,并以正辛酸-硫酸铵法提纯获得PsaA抗体IgG。利用得到的PsaA抗原和抗体为材料,建立两种检测PsaA抗体的快速检测方法,即间接ELISA法和上转换发光（Up-converting Phospher Technology,UPT）免疫层析试纸条法。最后利用这两种方法检测18份猴血清标本中的PsaA抗体。结果：鼠疫菌感染猴血清标本中PsaA抗体的阳性率为62%（8/13）。结论：成功建立了针对鼠疫菌PsaA抗体的快速检测方法,并检测到13份鼠疫感染猴血清标本中的PsaA抗体的阳性率为62%。     

Development of a multiplex and real time PCR assay for the specific detection of Arcobacter butzleri and Arcobacter cryaerophilus

A new multiplex PCR and two specific TaqMan assays were developed to target the emerging pathogens A. butzleri and A. cryaerophilus. The assays also included an internal control to verify the presence of bacterial target DNA and amplification integrity. The multiplex assay used a published primer set (CRY1 and CRY2) for detecting A. cryaerophilus DNA (Houf, K., Tutenel, A., De Zutter, L., Van Hoof, J. and Vandamme, P., 2000. Development of a multiplex PCR assay for the simultaneous detection and identification of Arcobacter butzleri, Arcobacter cryaerophilus and Arcobacter skirrowii. FEMS microbiology letters, 193 (1): 89-94.) and a novel A. butzleri primer set designed to target the rpoB/C gene sequences. To improve sample throughput and assay sensitivity a TaqMan assay for each Arcobacter spp. was developed which again utilised the heterogeneity contained in the rpoB/C and 23s rRNA gene sequences. The two TaqMan assays provided >2 log improvement in detection sensitivity for both Arcobacter spp. compared with the multiplex PCR assay and were able to detect <10 CFU per PCR reaction. To evaluate the effectiveness of the Arcobacter TaqMan assays with field isolates the assays were used to screen DNA samples prepared from faecal, hide and environmental samples obtained from two meat processing plants. In these studies, the TaqMan assays revealed that 2/150 (1.3%) samples were A. butzleri-positive, 11/150 (7.3%) were A. cryaerophilus-positive and the identity of generated amplicons was confirmed by DNA sequencing. Our results show that these TaqMan assays provide improvements in sensitivity and species-representation over other published Arcobacter PCR assays and they are compatible with detecting Arcobacters in sub-optimal matrices.     

Development of a combined selection and enrichment PCR procedure for Clostridium botulinum Types B, E, and F and its use to determine prevalence in fecal samples from slaughtered pigs

A specific and sensitive combined selection and enrichment PCR procedure was developed for the detection of Clostridium botulinum types B, E, and F in fecal samples from slaughtered pigs. Two enrichment PCR assays, using the DNA polymerase rTth, were constructed. One assay was specific for the type B neurotoxin gene, and the other assay was specific for the type E and F neurotoxin genes. Based on examination of 29 strains of C. botulinum, 16 strains of other Clostridium spp., and 48 non-Clostridium strains, it was concluded that the two PCR assays detect C. botulinum types B, E, and F specifically. Sample preparation prior to the PCR was based on heat treatment of feces homogenate at 70 degrees C for 10 min, enrichment in tryptone-peptone-glucose-yeast extract broth at 30 degrees C for 18 h, and DNA extraction. The detection limits after sample preparation were established as being 10 spores per g of fecal sample for nonproteolytic type B, and 3.0 x 10(3) spores per g of fecal sample for type E and nonproteolytic type F with a detection probability of 95%. Seventy-eight pig fecal samples collected from slaughter houses were analyzed according to the combined selection and enrichment PCR procedure, and 62% were found to be PCR positive with respect to the type B neurotoxin gene. No samples were positive regarding the type E and F neurotoxin genes, indicating a prevalence of less than 1.3%. Thirty-four (71%) of the positive fecal samples had a spore load of less than 4 spores per g. Statistical analysis showed that both rearing conditions (outdoors and indoors) and seasonal variation (summer and winter) had significant effects on the prevalence of C. botulinum type B, whereas the effects of geographical location (southern and central Sweden) were less significant.     

Evaluation of the Applied Biosystems automated Taqman polymerase chain reaction system for the detection of meningococcal DNA

In a period where the proportion of culture confirmed cases in the UK has been steadily declining, diagnosis by PCR has been used to increase the number of confirmed cases and provide additional epidemiological data. This report presents a comparative evaluation of the fluorogenic probe-based 5' exonuclease assay (Taqman) using the Perkin-Elmer Applied Biosystems automated sequence detection system 7700 with previously reported polymerase chain reaction enzyme-linked immunosorbent (PCR ELISA) assays for the detection of meningococcal DNA in CSF, plasma and serum samples. Taqman assays developed were based on the detection of a meningococcal capsular transfer gene (ctrA), the insertion sequence IS1106 and the sialytransferase gene (siaD) for serogroup B and C determination and compared with similar assays in a PCR ELISA format. The Taqman ctrA assay was specific for Neisseria meningitidis, however the IS1106 assay gave false positive reactions with a number of non-meningococcal isolates. Sensitivity of the Taqman ctrA, IS1106 and siaD assays testing samples from culture-confirmed cases were 64, 69 and 50%, respectively, compared with 26, 67 and 43% for the corresponding PCR ELISA assays. Improvements to the DNA extraction procedure has increased the sensitivity to 93 and 91% for the TaqMan ctrA and siaD assays, respectively, compared to culture confirmed cases. Since the introduction of Taqman PCR a 56% increase in laboratory confirmed cases of meningococcal disease has been observed compared to culture only confirmed cases. The developed Taqman assays for the diagnosis of meningococcal disease enables a high throughput, rapid turnaround of samples with considerable reduced risk of contamination.     

Development and evaluation of loop-mediated isothermal amplification for rapid detection of Haemophilus parasuis

Loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) is a novel nucleic acid amplification method performed under isothermal conditions and has a high specificity and efficiency. We developed a LAMP assay targeting the 16S rRNA gene for rapid detection of Haemophilus parasuis. The results obtained from testing 31 H. parasuis strains and 28 other bacterial species strains showed that LAMP was as specific as, and more sensitive than, nested PCR. Fifty-five lung samples were collected from 55 healthy pigs. All the samples were negative for H. parasuis by bacterial isolation, nested PCR and LAMP, respectively. In addition, 122 lung samples were collected from 122 pigs with apparent respiratory problems. Sixty-five were positive by bacterial isolation. All the samples that were positive by bacterial isolation were also positive by nested PCR and LAMP. The LAMP assay demonstrated higher sensitivity than nested PCR, picking up 16 additional cases. The LAMP assay also gave a same result compared with the nested PCR when the two assays were used, respectively, to detect H. parasuis from samples obtained from experimentally infected pigs. We concluded that LAMP is a highly sensitive and reliable method for detection of H. parasuis infection.     

Development and evaluation of loop-mediated isothermal amplification assay for rapid and sensitive detection of canine parvovirus DNA directly in faecal specimens

Aims: To develop a specific and highly sensitive loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) technique for the rapid detection of canine parvovirus (CPV) DNA directly in suspected faecal samples of dogs by employing a simple method of template preparation. Methods and Results: LAMP reaction was developed by designing two sets of outer and inner primers, which target a total of six distinct regions on VP2 gene of CPV. The template DNA was prepared by a simple boiling and chilling method. Of the 140 faecal samples screened by the developed LAMP and the conventional PCR assays, 104 samples (74·28%) were found positive by LAMP, whereas 81 samples (57·85%) were found positive by PCR. The specificity of the LAMP assay was tested by cross-examination of common pathogens of dogs and further confirmed by sequencing. The detection limit of the LAMP was 0·0001 TCID(50) ml(-1) , whereas the detection limit of the PCR was 1000 TCID(50) ml(-1) . Conclusions: The developed LAMP assay detects CPV DNA in faecal specimens directly within an hour by following a simple and rapid boiling and chilling method of template preparation. The result also shows that the developed LAMP assay is specific and highly sensitive in detecting CPV. Significance and Impact of the Study: The result indicates the potential usefulness of LAMP which is a simple, rapid, specific, highly sensitive and cost-effective field-based method for direct detection of CPV from the suspected faecal samples of dogs.     

Comparison and evaluation of Renibacterium salmoninarum quantitative PCR diagnostic assays using field samples of Chinook and coho salmon

Renibacterium salmoninarum is a Gram-positive bacterium causing bacterial kidney disease (BKD) in susceptible salmonid fishes. Several quantitative PCR (qPCR) assays to measure R. salmoninarum infection intensity have been reported, but comparison and evaluation of these assays has been limited. Here, we compared 3 qPCR primer/probe sets for detection of R. salmoninarum in field samples of naturally exposed Chinook and coho salmon first identified as positive by nested PCR (nPCR). Additional samples from a hatchery population of Chinook salmon with BKD were included to serve as strong positive controls. The 3 qPCR assays targeted either the multiple copy major soluble antigen (msa) genes or the single copy abc gene. The msa/non-fluorescent quencher (NFQ) assay amplified R. salmoninarum DNA in 53.2% of the nPCR positive samples, whereas the abc/NFQ assay amplified 21.8% of the samples and the abc/TAMRA assay 18.2%. The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) successfully quantified only 16.4% of the nPCR positive samples. Although the msa/NFQ assay amplified a greater proportion of nPCR positive samples, the abc/NFQ assay better amplified those samples with medium and high ELISA values. A comparison of the geometric mean quantity ratios highlighted limitations of the assays, and the abc/NFQ assay strongly amplified some samples that were negative in other tests, in contrast to its performance among the sample group as a whole. These data demonstrate that both the msa/NFQ and abc/NFQ qPCR assays are specific and effective at higher infection levels and outperform the ELISA. However, most pathogen studies will continue to require multiple assays to both detect and quantify R. salmoninarum infection.     

建立液相芯片方法检测鉴别结核分枝杆菌复合群、鸟分枝杆菌与副结核分枝杆菌

运用液相芯片技术原理,以分枝杆菌菌种(群)特异基因序列IS6110、IS1081、IS1245和F57为目标基因,设计筛选4套扩增引物和杂交探针,建立同时检测鉴别结核分枝杆菌复合群、鸟分枝杆菌和副结核分枝杆菌的四重液相基因芯片检测方法。对13种共54株分枝杆菌菌株以及23种常见微生物样品的检测结果显示,四重液相芯片方法可特异检测鉴别目标菌种(群),与其它分枝杆菌菌种或微生物无非特异交叉反应;检测敏感性达2.1×101-2.5×102基因拷贝或0.06-0.74 fg DNA;组内检测变异系数和组间检测变异系数均<10%。采用四重液相芯片方法从临床结核疑似人痰样和牛组织样品中检出结核致病菌,检出率分别达75.6%(99/131)和94.9%(37/39),显著高于培养法(38.9%和53.8%)。对副结核疑似临床样品的检测试验结果显示,四重液相芯片方法与荧光PCR方法的阳性符合率为83%(24/29)。对四重混合模板的检测试验结果显示该液相芯片方法可鉴别不同菌种混合感染。四重液相芯片方法的检测周期<1 d,其中对纯化DNA模板的检测时间可在2-3 h内完成。     

Evaluation of culture, ELISA and PCR assays for the detection of Salmonella in seafood

Aims: The study evaluated the efficiency of culture, enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays for the detection of Salmonella in naturally contaminated seafood. Methods and Results: In this study, 215 seafood samples comprising fish, shrimp, crab, clam, mussel, oyster, squid, cuttlefish and octopus from fish market of Cochin (India), were compared by culture, ELISA and PCR methods. Bacteriological Analytical Manual (BAM), U.S. Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) method was followed for culture assay, and Salmonella Tek, a commercial sandwich ELISA kit, was used for ELISA assay. Salmonella‐specific PCR assay was developed for 284 bp Salmonella‐specific invA gene amplicon. PCR assay exhibited 31·6% seafood positive for Salmonella followed by ELISA (23·7%) and culture method (21·3%). There was fair to excellent agreement between culture, ELISA and PCR assays (kappa coefficient values ranging from 0·385 to 1·0) for different seafood samples. Conclusion: The investigation revealed the greater concordance between culture and ELISA methods for seafood. Among the three methods, PCR assay was most sensitive. Lower detection rate with culture and ELISA assays could be attributed to greater sensitivity of the PCR method in the detection of Salmonella in seafood. Significance and Impact of the Study: We propose the incorporation of dual tests based on different principle and procedure for the routine analysis of Salmonella in seafood.     

Comparison of gull feces-specific assays targeting the 16S rRNA genes of Catellicoccus marimammalium and Streptococcus spp

Two novel gull-specific quantitative PCR (qPCR) assays were developed using 16S rRNA gene sequences from gull fecal clone libraries: a SYBR green assay targeting Streptococcus spp. (gull3) and a hydrolysis TaqMan assay targeting Catellicoccus marimammalium (gull4). The objectives of this study were to compare the host specificity of a previous C. marimammalium qPCR assay (gull2) with that of the new markers and to examine the presence of the three gull markers in environmental water samples from different geographic locations. Most of the gull fecal samples tested (n = 255) generated positive signals with the gull2 and gull4 assays (i.e., >86%), whereas only 28% were positive with gull3. Low prevalence and abundance of tested gull markers (0.6 to 15%) were observed in fecal samples from six nonavian species (n = 180 fecal samples), whereas the assays cross-reacted to some extent (13 to 31%) with other (nongull) avian fecal samples. The gull3 assay was positive against fecal samples from 11 of 15 avian species, including gull. Of the presumed gull-impacted water samples (n = 349), 86%, 59%, and 91% were positive with the gull2, the gull3, and the gull4 assays, respectively. Approximately 5% of 239 non-gull-impacted water samples were positive with the gull2 and the gull4 assays, whereas 21% were positive witg the gull3 assay. While the relatively high occurrence of gull2 and gull4 markers in waters impacted by gull feces suggests that these assays could be used in environmental monitoring studies, the data also suggest that multiple avian-specific assays will be needed to accurately assess the contribution of different avian sources in recreational waters.