Direct Identification ofCampylobacterSpecies in Poultry Samples by Multiplex PCR

Campylobacter jejuni and C coli are recognized as the most common cause of food-borne bacterial gastroenteritis in human, and poultry consumption has been implicated as a primary source of transmission. The detection and identification of these microorganisms by conventional tests is problematic and time consuming. Therefore, the objective of this study was the use of multiplex PCR for simultaneous distinction of the two species in poultry samples collected from different local markets. A total of 10 strains of Campylobacter were isolated from the 14 poultry samples processed. Multiplex PCR assay was applied to preenrichment and enrichment broths and to isolated strains. There was a perfect correlation between results obtained when the PCR reaction was performed directly onto the samples and when the technique was carried out on the isolates. The species-specific multiplex PCR assay is a rapid method for the detection and identification of thermotolerant Campylobacter species in poultry samples, and it can be a good alternative to identify isolated strains instead to biochemical identification.