Comparative validation study to demonstrate the equivalence of a minor modification to AOAC official method 2005.04 assurance GdS E. coli 0157:H7 method to the reference culture method: 375 gram sample size.

The Assurance GDS Escherichia coli (E. col) O157:H7, AOAC Official Method 2005.04, has been modified to include a larger sample size of 375 g. A methods comparison study was conducted to demonstrate the equivalence of this modification to the reference culture method. Ninety samples and controls, representing three foods, were analyzed. Results show no statistically detectable difference between the Assurance GDS E. coli O157:H7 assay and the reference culture methods for the detection of E. coli O157:H7, other than the low level of inoculation for leaf lettuce, for which the GDS gave noticeably higher recovery [difference in probability of detection between candidate methods (dPODc = +0.45)]. There were also suggestions of moderate differences (dPODc = +0.15 to +0.20) for ground beef and the high level of leaf lettuce, but the study size was too small to detect differences of this size. Results showed that the Assurance GDS E. coli O157:H7 method is equivalent to reference culture methods for the detection of E. coli O157:H7.

Comparative validation study to demonstrate the equivalence of a minor modification to AOAC Official Method 2005.05 Assurance GDS shiga Toxin Genes (O157) method to the reference culture method: 375 gram sample size.

The Assurance GDS Shiga Toxin Genes (0157), AOAC Official MethodsM 2005.05, has been modified to include a larger sample size of 375 g. A methods comparison study was conducted to demonstrate the equivalence of this modification to the reference culture method. Ninety samples and controls, representing three foods, were analyzed. Results show no statistically detectable difference between the Assurance GDS Escherichia coli O157:H7 assay and the reference culture methods for the detection of E. coli O157:H7, other than the low level of inoculation for leaf lettuce for which the GDS gave noticeably higher recovery [difference in Probability of Detection between candidate methods (dPODc = +0.45)]. There were also suggestions of moderate differences (dPODc = +0.15 to +0.20) for ground beef and the high level of leaf lettuce, but the study size was too small to detect differences of this size. Results showed that the Assurance GDS Shiga Toxin Genes (0157) method is equivalent to the reference culture methods for the detection of Shiga toxigenic E. coli O157:H7.

Description of an unusual Neisseria meningitidis isolate containing and expressing Neisseria gonorrhoeae-Specific 16S rRNA gene sequences.

An apparently rare Neisseria meningitidis isolate containing one copy of a Neisseria gonorrhoeae 16S rRNA gene is described herein. This isolate was identified as N. meningitidis by biochemical identification methods but generated a positive signal with Gen-Probe Aptima assays for the detection of Neisseria gonorrhoeae. Direct 16S rRNA gene sequencing of the purified isolate revealed mixed bases in signature regions that allow for discrimination between N. meningitidis and N. gonorrhoeae. The mixed bases were resolved by sequencing individually PCR-amplified single copies of the genomic 16S rRNA gene. A total of 121 discrete sequences were obtained; 92 (76%) were N. meningitidis sequences, and 29 (24%) were N. gonorrhoeae sequences. Based on the ratio of species-specific sequences, the N. meningitidis strain seems to have replaced one of its four intrinsic 16S rRNA genes with the gonococcal gene. Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) probes specific for meningococcal and gonococcal rRNA were used to demonstrate the expression of the rRNA genes. Interestingly, the clinical isolate described here expresses both N. meningitidis and N. gonorrhoeae 16S rRNA genes, as shown by positive FISH signals with both probes. This explains why the probes for N. gonorrhoeae in the Gen-Probe Aptima assays cross-react with this N. meningitidis isolate. The N. meningitidis isolate described must have obtained N. gonorrhoeae-specific DNA through interspecies recombination.

Detection of Panulirus argus Virus 1 in Caribbean spiny lobsters.

Panulirus argus Virus 1 (PaV1) is a pathogenic virus that infects Caribbean spiny lobsters P. argus in the Florida Keys. We have developed a PCR detection assay for PaV1 for the purpose of studying the natural history of the virus and for monitoring the prevalence of infection. The detection of the virus in hemolymph and other tissues is based on the PCR amplification of a 499 bp product using specific primers designed from a cloned fragment of the PaV1 genome. The sensitivity limit for the assay was 1.2 fg of purified viral DNA. The PaV1 primers did not react with lobster DNA, oyster DNA, Ostreid Herpesvirus 1, or murine cytomegalovirus. Using this assay, we successfully followed the course of infection in lobsters inoculated with PaV1 and we detected infections in wild-caught lobsters from the Florida Keys. We have also established guidelines for interpreting infection results from the PCR assay for PaV1.