Development of a multiplex PCR for the identification ofStaphylococcusgenus and four staphylococcal species isolated from food.

s.c. morot-bizot, r. talon and s. leroy. 2004.To develop a multiplex PCR that allows the identification of bacteria belonging to theStaphylococcusgenus and in particular to the speciesStaphylococcus xylosus,S. saprophyticus,S. epidermidisandS. aureusisolated from food manufacturing plants.Five primer pairs were used in the multiplex PCR, one specific to theStaphylococcusgenus and four specific toS. xylosus,S. saprophyticus,S. epidermidisandS. aureusspecies. All the 31Staphylococcusreference strains yielded a specific PCR product with the genus-specific primers.Staphylococcus xylosus,S. saprophyticus,S. epidermidisandS. aureusgave a specific PCR fragment with the corresponding species-specific primers. No amplification with theKocuria,MacrococcusandMicrococcusstrains was observed in our conditions. This multiplex PCR was performed on 30 strains of Gram-positive cocci isolated from different workshops and fermented sausages. Among them, 28 belonged to theStaphylococcusgenus and 14 were identified toS. saprophyticus, four toS. xylosus, two toS. aureusand one toS. epidermidis.This multiplex PCR provided reliable and repeatable PCR results. It allowed the identification of a major part of the isolates, highlighting the predominance of theS. saprophyticusspecies in the workshops studied.This tool is a useful way to screen the strains isolated from foodstuff and food environment and to monitor these species during the food processing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]