An allele-specific PCR assay for the rapid and serotype-specific detection of Salmonella pullorum

Avian Dis. 2005 Dec;49(4):558-61. doi: 10.1637/7385-052205R.1.

Abstract

Salmonella serovar Pullorum is a causative agent of pullorum disease (PD) in poultry and is responsible for severe economic losses to the poultry industry in many parts of the world. A definitive detection of Pullorum requires culture followed by serotyping and biochemical identification, a process that is tedious and takes several weeks to accomplish. We have developed a rapid allele-specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method based on the nucleotide polymorphism in rfbS gene sequence for the serotype-specific detection of Pullorum and its differentiation from the closely related Gallinarum. The specificity of this PCR assay was tested using DNA samples from Pullorum (n = 13), Salmonella serotypes other than Pullorum (n = 19), and closely related non-Salmonella organisms (n = 5). The PCR assay was highly serotype-specific as the PCR amplicon of 147 base pairs was observed only in the case of Pullorum, while all the other DNA samples tested PCR negative. A definitive identification of Pullorum cultures was possible in less than 3 hr. As little as 100 pg of SP DNA was detected. This allele-specific PCR method is highly specific as well as sensitive and may be an effective molecular tool in the rapid and serotype-specific detection of Pullorum and differentiation from other Salmonella species.

Publication types

  • Evaluation Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Alleles
  • Animals
  • Base Sequence
  • DNA Primers / genetics
  • DNA, Bacterial / genetics
  • Genes, Bacterial
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction / methods
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction / statistics & numerical data
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction / veterinary*
  • Poultry / microbiology*
  • Poultry Diseases / diagnosis
  • Poultry Diseases / microbiology
  • Salmonella / classification
  • Salmonella / genetics*
  • Salmonella / isolation & purification*
  • Salmonella Infections, Animal / diagnosis
  • Salmonella Infections, Animal / microbiology
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Serotyping

Substances

  • DNA Primers
  • DNA, Bacterial