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Identification ofShigella species in stool specimens by DNA amplification of different loci of theShigella virulence plasmid

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Abstract

The sensitivity and specificity of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for detection of DNA sequences specific toShigella spp. and enteroinvasiveEscherichia coli (EIEC) in stools was evaluated. Stool specimens were obtained from patients with acute gastroenteritis before and after antibiotic treatment. Fecal material was pre-incubated in phosphate-buffered saline, gram-negative broth or brain heart infusion (BHI) broth, and DNA was extracted and amplified. Primers complementary to theial or thevirF loci of the 140 MDa plasmid ofShigella were evaluated. The highest sensitivity for detection ofShigella DNA in stools (higher than that of culture) was reached by pre-incubation of the fecal material in BHI broth and use ofvirF primers for amplification. The specificity of this PCR protocol was documented by the negative results obtained with non-Shigella enteric organisms. These findings point out the important diagnostic and epidemiologic potential of thevirF-specific PCR protocol in the investigation ofShigella infections.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Israel Defence Force, Medical Corps, Military Post 02149, Israel

    M. Yavzori, D. Cohen, R. Ambar, G. Rechavi & S. Ashkenazi

  2. Clinical Microbiological Laboratory, Tel Aviv Medical Center, Tel Aviv, Israel

    R. Wasserlauf

  3. Institute of Hematology, Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, Israel

    G. Rechavi

Authors
  1. M. Yavzori
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  2. D. Cohen
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  3. R. Wasserlauf
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  4. R. Ambar
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  5. G. Rechavi
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  6. S. Ashkenazi
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Yavzori, M., Cohen, D., Wasserlauf, R. et al. Identification ofShigella species in stool specimens by DNA amplification of different loci of theShigella virulence plasmid. Eur. J. Clin. Microbiol. Infect. Dis. 13, 232–237 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01974542

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01974542

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