Detection of Yersinia enterocolitica in Stool Specimens by Real- time Polymerase Chain Reaction

Abstract

This study was carried out in the period from May 2007 - March 2008 to detect pathogenic Yersinia enterocolitica from stool specimens by real-time polymerase chain reaction technique as an alternative to traditional culture methods. Forty six stool specimens were collected from patients attended Khartoum Teaching Hospital, Omdurman Teaching Hospital and Gaafer Ibni-ouf Specialized Hospital. Bacterial DNA was extracted from each stool specimen using Phenol-Chloroform technique. Real-time PCR detect the presence of Y. enterocolitica in stool specimens, the result revealed that only five (10.9%) specimens were positive. The study concluded that the real-time PCR technique facilitates the detection of pathogenic Y. enterocolitica from stool specimens without bacteriological culture.