Multiplex assay based on single-nucleotide polymorphisms for rapid identification of Brucella isolates at the species level.

The genus Brucella includes a number of species that are major animal pathogens worldwide and significant causes of zoonotic infections of humans. Traditional methods of identifying Brucella to the species level can be time-consuming, can be subjective, and can pose a hazard to laboratory personnel in the absence of suitable biocontainment facilities. Using a robust phylogenetic framework, a number of single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) that define particular species within the genus were identified. These SNPs were used to develop a multiplex SNP detection assay, based on primer extension technology, that can rapidly and unambiguously identify an isolate as a member of one of the six classical Brucella species or as a member of the recently identified marine mammal group.