Alexandre Pontes

Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for the detection of Salmonella in artificially inoculated chicken meat

The aim of this study was to develop a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) protocol for the detection of Salmonella in artificially contaminated chicken meat. Tests were performed with different dilutions of Salmonella Typhimurium or Salmonella Enteritidis cells (10(-7), 10(-8) or 10(-9) CFU/mL) inoculated in chicken meat samples, in order to establish the limits of detection, incubation times (0, 6, 8 and 24 hours of pre-enrichment in PBW 1%) and three DNA extraction protocols (phenol-chloroform, thermal treatment and thermal treatment and Sephaglass). The assay was able to detect until 10(-9) CFU/mL of initial dilution of Salmonella cells inoculated in chicken meat, which allows detection of Salmonella within 48 hours, including 24 hours of pre-enrichment and using the phenol-chloroform DNA extraction protocol. As the results are obtained in a shorter time period than that of microbiological culture, this procedure will be useful in the methodology for detection of Salmonella in chicken.

Virulence Factors of Avian Pathogenic Escherichia coli Isolated from Broilers from the South of Brazil

SUMMARY. Sixty-three Escherichia coli strains isolated from broilers with respiratory problems were examined for virulence factors, hemolysin synthesis ability, motility, hemagglutination capacity, operon pap presence, colicin production, and serum resistance. The capacity to hemagglutinate guinea pig erythrocytes was found in 53 (84.1%) of the samples, but only 30 (47.6%) agglutinated chicken erythrocytes. d-mannose-sensitive hemagglutination against guinea pig erythrocytes was found in 19 (30.2%) samples and against chicken erythrocytes, in 15 (23.8%) samples, whereas the d-mannose-resistant hemagglutination with guinea pig erythrocytes was found in 34 (54%) samples, and 13 of these (20.6%) showed this characteristic against chicken erythrocytes. Operon pap, P fimbria codifier, was detected in 26 samples in a total of 34 d-mannose-resistant samples. Colicin production was observed in 55 (87.3%) of the strains, and 41.8% presented V colicin production. Of the samples analyzed, 56 (88.9%) presented serum resistance, six (9.5%) were intermediate, and only one (1.6%) was sensitive to the action of the complement. The diversity of virulence profiles detected in the samples in this study explains in part the multifactorial characteristics of avian colibacillosis.

MÉTODOS DE EXTRAÇÃO DE DNA PARA A DETECÇÃO DE Salmonella EM OVOS DE GALINHAS, COM E SEM CASCA, ATRAVÉS DA REAÇÃO EM CADEIA PELA POLIMERASE

The Salmonella sp detection in feed samples is time consuming, it has five stages and requires 120 hours for final results. The use of polimerase chain reaction technique can reduce this time considerably, however it can be affected by substances from the sample. This study had the objective of comparing two methods of DNA extraction, by heating process and by phenol-chloroform in samples of 100 chicken eggs experimentally infected with a sample of Salmonella enterica sorovar typhimurium in stationary phase. After the two extraction methods a PCR was done using a pair of oligonucleotides that amplifies a fragment of 284pb in the InvA gene de Salmonella sp. Comparing the extraction methods it was noted a difference of 12% favorably to the phenol-chloroform method when the extraction was done from eggs with shell. The same method using just the egg internal part resulted in a difference of 26% with high significance (P<0.003), showing that the method used was determinant to improve the technique efficiency. However, comparing the positive percentage independent of the DNA extraction method a significant difference (P<0.047) was noted for outshell eggs. This fact suggests that for Salmonella egg analysis, only the egg internal part should be used because the shell can determine interference in technique.