PCR use for detection and identification of mycobacterias from bovine clinical samples

Abstract

Mycobacterial infections in bovines,
mainly caused by Mycobacterium bovis, have great
importance because of economic losses and public
health risks related to its elevated zoonotic potential.
The objective of this work was to test a molecular
protocol for detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis
Complex (MtbC) subspecies from bacterial culture.
Organ samples from five bovines with suspicion of
infection were submitted to bacterial culture and PCR for Mycobacterium sp. Bacterial DNA was extracted
from growing colonies to carry out PCR with seven
primer pairs: 16S rRNA, Rv0577, IS1561, Rv1510,
Rv1970, Rv3877/8 and Rv3120. Reactions were
positive to all tested animals and results showed
that the PCR pattern was adequate to identify M.
bovis, establishing detection specificity while culture
only identifies the genre Mycobacterium. This
more specific, sensitive and rapid diagnosis offers
advantages on bovine tuberculosis eradication
and control in Brazil, particularly on post-mortem
disease diagnosis, and contributes to the evaluation
of its implications on public health by consumption
of contaminated food and as an occupational risk in
slaughterhouses and farms.