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Recognition of pathogenic Yersinia enterocolitica by crystal violet binding and polymerase chain reaction
Author(s) -
Koeppel Esther,
Meyer R.,
Luethy J.,
Candrian U.
Publication year - 1993
Publication title -
letters in applied microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.698
H-Index - 110
eISSN - 1472-765X
pISSN - 0266-8254
DOI - 10.1111/j.1472-765x.1993.tb01454.x
Subject(s) - yersinia enterocolitica , chemistry , library science , microbiology and biotechnology , biology , genetics , computer science , bacteria
Cefsulodin‐Irgasan‐Novobiocin (CIN) agar is used for the selective isolation and enumeration of Yersinia enterocolitica from clinical specimens and food. The medium contains crystal violet and about 1 mmol l ‐1 calcium and can be used for the phenotypic characterization of strains that carry a virulence plasmid. At 32°C, irrespective of pathogenicity, colonies are translucent with a pale pink centre surrounded by a transparent border (‘bullseye’), while at 37°C pathogenic strains grow as calcium‐dependent microcolonies which, because of crystal violet binding, are intensely coloured. These results were confirmed by the polymerase chain reaction with primers directed at the vir F gene, which is present only in pathogenic strains of Y. enterocolitica. Pathogenic strains of Y. enterocolitica can be recognized by growth at 37°C on Yersinia selective agar.