Identification of five human and mammal associated Arcobacter species by a novel multiplex-PCR assay

A multiplex-PCR assay with seven primers was developed for the identification of the five human and mammal related species of the emerging foodborne pathogen Arcobacter. The assay was validated using 58 reference and 358 collection strains isolated from humans and mammals. The selected primers on the 23 S RNA gene amplify a 2061 bp fragment from A. butzleri, a 1590 bp fragment from A. thereuis, a 1125 bp fragment from A. cibarius and an A. skirrowii specific fragment of 198 bp. For A. cryaerophilus, a primer set on the gyrA gene amplified a specific fragment of 395 bp. No PCR product was generated for closely related bacteria including Campylobacter and Helicobacter species. Furthermore, examination of the 23 S RNA gene of A. cryaerophilus revealed, besides large heterogeneity, the presence of intervening sequences ranging from 87 to 196 bp.