L -cysteine transporter-PCR to detect hydrogen sulfide-producing Campylobacter fetus

FARACE, PABLO D.; MORSELLA, CLAUDIA G.; CRAVERO, SILVIO L.; SIOYA, BERNARDO A.; AMADIO, ARIEL F.; PAOLICCHI, FERNANDO A.; GIOFFRÉ, ANDREA K.

PeerJ

PeerJ

Año: 2019 vol. 7

Phenotypic differences between Campylobacter fetus fetus and C. fetus venerealis subspecies allow the differential diagnosis of bovine genital campylobacteriosis. The hydrogen sulfide production, for example, is a trait exclusive to C. fetus fetus and C. fetus venerealis biovar intermedius. This gas that can be biochemically tested can be produced from L-cysteine (L-Cys). Herein, we report a novel multiplex-PCR to differentiate C. fetus based on the evaluation of a deletion of an ATP-binding cassette-type L-Cys transporter that could be involved in hydrogen sulfide production, as previously described. A wet lab approach combined with an in silico whole genome data analysis showed complete agreement between this L-Cys transporter-PCR and the hydrogen sulfide production biochemical test. This multiplex-PCR may complement the tests currently employed for the differential diagnosis of C. fetus.