Detection of Yersinia enterocolitica in food by PCR amplification

A polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay was developed for detection of pathogenic, virulent strains of Yersinia enterocolitica. By using both virulence loci virF and ail as markers for pathogenicity, detection of species with a virulence factor present was possible. DNA preparation in the presence of hexadecyl trimethy ammonium bromide (CTAB) was followed by two 44 cycle amplification reactions, one for each of the markers. As few as 10(2) Y. enterocolitica cells were detected in ground pork in the presence of 10(5)-10(6) bacteria of other species. The described PCR assay provides a sensitive robust assay for the detection of virulent Y. enterocolitica in food.