Specific detection of Arcobacter spp. in estuarine waters of Southern Italy by PCR and fluorescent in situ hybridization

• Published in: Letters in applied microbiology Vol. 50; no. 1; pp. 65 - 70
• Main Authors: Fera, M.T, Gugliandolo, C, Lentini, V, Favaloro, A, Bonanno, D, La Camera, E, Maugeri, T.L
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Oxford, UK : Blackwell Publishing Ltd 2010; Blackwell Publishing Ltd; Blackwell
• Subjects: Arcobacter; Arcobacter - genetics; Arcobacter - growth & development; Arcobacter - isolation & purification; Arcobacter butzleri; Arcobacter cryaerophilus; Biological and medical sciences; Brackish; Colony Count, Microbial; Culture Media; DNA, Bacterial - analysis; DNA, Ribosomal - analysis; FISH; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence; Italy; Marine; Microbiology; PCR; Polymerase Chain Reaction; Rivers - microbiology; RNA, Bacterial - genetics; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S - genetics; Seawater - microbiology; Italy; Europe; MED, Italy; Water; Polymerase chain reaction; Analysis method; Applied microbiology; Fluorescence in situ hybridization; Estuaries; FISH; Detection; Arcobacter; PCR
• ISSN: 0266-8254; 1472-765X
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1472-765X.2009.02767.x

To evaluate the reliability of culture-independent methods in comparison with culture-dependent ones for the detection of Arcobacter spp. in estuarine waters of Southern Italy. PCR and fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) procedures were used to detect arcobacters directly in water samples and after enrichment cultures. The samples totally were positive by molecular methods (PCR and FISH) but only 75% were culture positive, confirming the limitation of these latter to detect Arcobacter spp. in natural samples. Culturable arcobacters were retrieved in all times except in July, and isolated species were ascribed only to Arcobacter cryaerophilus. Culturable and nonculturable forms of Arcobacter in the estuarine environment were present. PCR assays were more sensitive than traditional culture in detecting Arcobacter butzleri and A. cryaerophilus. FISH comparatively to PCR technique may provide information about cell morphology and viability of single cells. Our investigation indicates the existence of an environmental reservoir of potential pathogenic arcobacters in an estuarine Italian area, which may survive under a viable but not culturable state.