Application of multiplex polymerase chain reaction for rapid identification of Campylobacter jejuni and C coli associated with reproductive failure.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate a multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to distinguish Campylobacter jejuni from C coli as causes of reproductive failure.

PROCEDURE

Review of clinical cases of reproductive failure attributed to C jejuni or C coli.

RESULTS

A case of swine abortion was attributable to infection with C coli. The porcine abortion isolates were verified as C coli by restriction fragment length polymorphism and multiplex PCR. Cases of endometritis in a fox and in mink caused by C jejuni were reviewed, and isolates were confirmed as C jejuni by results of the multiplex PCR.

CONCLUSION

Multiplex PCR was useful in identifying C coli and C jejuni recovered from atypical cases of reproductive failure. Multiplex PCR in conjunction with conventional assays may be useful for verifying other unusual instances of campylobacteriosis.