Antimicrobial susceptibilities, phage types, and molecular characterization of Salmonella enterica serovar Enteritidis from chickens and chicken meat in turkey.

Thirty-eight Salmonella Enteritidis isolates from chickens and chicken meat in Turkey were examined for antimicrobial susceptibility, XbaI pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) patterns, phage types, plasmid profiles, and resistance genes. Seven different PFGE patterns were observed, with the most common accounting for 71% (X1). The most common phage type was PT4, followed by PT7, PT16, PT1, PT6, and PT35. Different phage types shared the same PFGE pattern. Twenty-one isolates were susceptible to all antimicrobial agents tested whereas eight were resistant to two or more antimicrobials. Six isolates were resistant to gentamicin, spectinomycin, streptomycin, and sulphamethoxazole and one of these in addition to nalidixic acid. Two isolates were resistant to ampicillin and nalidixic acid. An additional nine isolates were resistant to nalidixic acid only. All six streptomycin-resistant isolates had aadA located in an integron class 1 structure. Both ampicillin-resistant isolates had the bla(TEM) gene. Five different plasmid profiles were found among the isolates. Sixty-five percent of isolates contained a single plasmid with an approximate size of 55-60 kb. Plasmid profiling confirmed the PFGE pattern.

Comparison of real-time polymerase chain reaction and conventional polymerase chain reaction methods for the rapid identification of Bacillus anthracis.

Bacillus anthracis spores have been shown to be one of the most effective biological weapons. For the rapid detection of B. anthracis spores, several genetic markers, including chromosomal and plasmid-based sequences, were studied with polymerase chain reaction (PCR) methods. In the present study, a method using a primer/probe set based on the pXO1-encoded pag gene for the detection of B. anthracis was tested in addition to culture. Eight pathological samples (four blood-immersed cotton specimens, two spleen tissue specimens, and two blood smears) with confirmed positive results for anthrax were used. All samples were suspended in saline solution and fixed with Gram and Giemsa stains for examination of colony and capsule formation. Amplicons were analyzed on 2% agarose gels with the classic PCR method. For real-time PCR, a fluorescently labeled TaqMan probe was used with a Smartcycler. Positive smear and cotton samples were confirmed with the standard culture and real-time PCR methods, but the same samples were found to be negative with the classic PCR method. A spleen sample known to be positive for B. anthracis was found to be negative with the culture method because of possible contamination with Proteus-type bacteria.