Molecular Detection of Extended-Spectrum Beta-Lactamase Genes in Citrobacter youngae from Clinical Specimens

Abstract

Extended-spectrum ß-lactamases (ESBLs) have become widespread throughout the world and are now found in a significant percentage of Citrobacter youngae and other enterobacteriaceae strains in certain countries. This study was conducted in the Research Laboratory in Sudan University of Science and Technology. The study was carried out during the period from December 2009 to May 2010, to detect TEM, SHV and CTX-M genes in ESBLs-producing C. youngae. Six C. youngae strains were obtained from the Research Laboratory. All strains were checked for purity by sub-culturing on nutrient agar and examined microscopically. Bacterial DNA was extracted from each isolate using boiling method. Multiplex PCR was adopted to detect these genes. The result revealed the presence of TEM gene only in four of the isolates. It is concluded that, TEM gene is the commonest gene in C. youngae isolates. Further studies with large number of bacterial isolates are required to evaluate this result.