PCR-amplified 16S rRNA gene sequences were obtained directly from tissue specimens from eight cats with presumptive feline leprosy. Acid-fast bacilli were observed in sections from all eight specimens, but culture for mycobacteria was successful for one specimen only. Analysis of the V2 variable region of each 16S rRNA PCR product identified a sequence with 100% nucleotide identity to the sequences of Mycobacterium lepraemurium, Mycobacterium avium, and Mycobacterium paratuberculosis in four of the specimens from cats with feline leprosy. Separate M. paratuberculosis-and M. avium-specific PCR amplifications of the four specimens were negative, thus substantiating the identification of M. lepraemurium in these specimens from cats with feline leprosy. Further sequence analysis of the V3 variable region of one of the four specimens provided conclusive evidence of the presence of M. lepraemurium. This is the first report of the definitive identification of M. lepraemurium in cats with feline leprosy by molecular biology-based analyses. M. avium, which is rarely reported in cats, and Mycobacterium chitae, a reported nonpathogenic, rapidly growing mycobacterial species found in the environment, were identified in the specimen from which acid-fast bacilli were cultured. Two of the specimens from cats were infected with a potentially novel species of mycobacteria which had a 16S rRNA gene sequence sharing the closest nucleotide sequence identity with that of Mycobacterium malmoense. Molecular biologybased analyses provided for the accurate and rapid diagnosis of mycobacterial infections in cats and circumvented the problems of culture and misdiagnosis of feline leprosy associated with traditional methods.
Two methods, based on analysis of the polymerase chain reaction-amplified 16S rRNA gene by restriction enzyme analysis (REA) or direct cycle sequencing, were developed for rapid identification of mycobacteria isolated from animals and were compared to traditional phenotypic typing. BACTEC 7H12 cultures of the specimens were examined for "cording," and specific polymerase chain reaction amplification was performed to identify the presence of tubercle complex mycobacteria. Combined results of separate REAs with HhaI, MspI, MboI, and ThaI differentiated 12 of 15 mycobacterial species tested. HhaI, MspI, and T7haI restriction enzyme profiles differentiatedActinobaciUus species from mycobacterial species. Mycobacterium bovis could not be differentiated from M. bovis BCG or Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Similarly, Mycobacterium avium and * Corresponding author.
Two insertion sequences, IS6110 and IS1081, specific to the tuberculosis complex mycobacteria and a highly reiterated DNA element (pTBN12) cloned from Mycobacterium tuberculosis were systematically used to identify restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) types among bovine isolates of Mycobacterium bovis in Northern Ireland. In a sample of 109 isolates, probes IS6110, IS1081, and pTBN12 identified 10, 2, and 12 distinct patterns, respectively. By combining the patterns generated by the three probes it was possible to identify 28 distinct RFLP types. The standard protocol advocated for RFLP analysis ofM. tuberculosis was used and would facilitate computer-based gel documentation and image analysis to establish a database of M. bovis types for large-scale epidemiological studies. These procedures will facilitate interlaboratory comparisons of M. bovis isolates and will help to elucidate the precise epidemiology of bovine tuberculosis in diferent countries.
This study confirms that different preparations of Taq DNA polymerase are contaminated with eubacterial DNA. The contaminants appeared to represent more than one strain or species but were not identified as Thermus aquaticus or Escherichia coli. Differences in microcentrifuge tube composition appeared to affect elimination of the contaminants.
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