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Updated: Jul 29, 2026
On-Site Molecular Detection of Soil-Borne Phytopathogens Using a Portable Real-Time PCR System
Published on: February 23, 2018
Rapid and effective detection of anthrax spores in soil by PCR
H I Cheun1, S-I Makino, M Watarai
1Department of Applied Veterinary Science, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro, Hokkaido, Japan.
Aims:
To detect Bacillus anthracis DNA from soil using rapid and simple procedures.
Methods And Results:
Various amounts of B. anthracis Pasteur II spores were added artificially to 1 g of soil, which was then washed with ethanol and sterile water. Enrichment of the samples in trypticase soy broth was performed twice. A DNA template was prepared from the second enrichment culture using a FastPrep instrument. The template was then used for nested and real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with B. anthracis-specific primers, to confirm the presence of B. anthracis chromosomal DNA and the pXO1/pXO2 plasmids.
Conclusions:
One cell of B. anthracis in 1 g of soil could be detected by nested and real-time PCR. The usefulness of the PCR method using field samples was also confirmed.
Significance And Impact Of The Study:
The results indicate that this could be a useful method for detecting anthrax-spore contaminated soil with high sensitivity. Its application could have great impact on the progress of epidemiological surveillance.
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