Bacteriological culture methods were compared with PCR based protocols (multiplex PCR and TaqMan assay) for the rapid detection of pathogenic Yersinia enterocolitica (YE) in market weight hogs and pork products. The prevalence of YE was compared in lairaged hogs (n=150) versus hogs transported directly to the farm (n=150). By bacteriological culture, YE was not detected in any of the hog tissue...

Early diagnosis and treatment are crucial for the outcome of central nervous system (CNS) infections. In this study, we developed a multiplex PCR-Luminex assay for the simultaneous detection of five major pathogens, including Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Cryptococcus neoformans, Streptococcus pneumoniae, and herpes simplex virus types 1 and 2, which frequently cause CNS infections. Through the h...

Contamination of powdered infant formula (PIF) by the bacteria Cronobacter spp. and Salmonella enterica was deemed a matter of great concern by the World Health Organization and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations in 2004. Therefore, we developed a rapid and sensitive multiplex real-time PCR assay for the simultaneous detection of Cronobacter and Salmonella in PIF. In ad...

BACKGROUND Dengue fever results from infection with one or more of four different serotypes of dengue virus (DENV). Despite the widespread nature of this infection, available molecular diagnostics have significant limitations. The aim of this study was to develop a multiplex, real-time, reverse transcriptase-PCR (rRT-PCR) for the detection, quantitation, and serotyping of dengue viruses in a si...

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE Glycoprotein B (gB), involved in cell-to-cell transmission of human cytomegalovirus (HCMV), is a critical factor in tissue tropism and viral pathogenesis. The aim of the present study was to compare the efficiency of PCR-based RFLP and multiplex nested PCR for gB gene of HCMV to determine their genotype in clinical specimens from patients with HCMV. METHODS The PCR base...

Gender selection is important in livestock industries; for example, female calves are required in the dairy industry. Sex-sorted semen is commonly used for the production of calves of the desired gender. However, assessment of the sex ratio of the sorted semen is tedious and expensive. In this study, a rapid, cost effective and reliable method for determining the sex ratio was developed using a...

For surveillance purposes real-time PCR assays for influenza viruses had to be adapted to the pandemic influenza A(H1N1)2009 strain. We combined published primers and probes for influenza A, influenza B and an internal amplification control with a detection system for influenza A(H1N1)2009 to set up a rapid, reliable, simple and cost-effective high-throughput multiplex one-step real-time RT-PCR...

INTRODUCTION Dengue fever and dengue haemorrhagic fever currently rank highly among the newly-emerging infectious diseases, and are considered to be the most important arboviral disease worldwide. The definitive diagnosis is culture analysis, but practical considerations limit its use. Also, the period for viral detection is limited. Within a day or two after fever subsides, rising levels of an...

Semi-automated detection of Enterohaemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) O157:H7 and non-O157:H7 Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) was achieved using fluorogenic polymerase chain reaction (PCR). These PCR assays were designed to amplify 80, 120 and 150 bp regions of virulence genes stx1, stx2 and eaeA, respectively, using specific primers. The fluorogenic probes were used for specific detectio...