Research Institute for Plague Control of Siberia and the Far East, Irkutsk, Russia
Data on the investigation of pseudotuberculosis epidemic outbreaks with the use of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR), are presented. Specific fragments of Yersinia pseudotuberculosis DNA were detected in 81.25% of patients, in 46.83% of cases confirmed by the isolation of Y.pseudotberculosis cultures. The study of washings from vegetables and equipment in vegetable stores and kitchens yielded positive results in PCR in 8.52% and the survey of rodents — in 3.85% of cases. In the course of the bacteriological study of these specimens 6 Y.pseudotuberculosis cultures were isolated: 3 — from vegetable products, 1 — from a Norway rat and 2 — from house mice. The coincidence of the data obtained by bacteriological study and PCR showed that the latter method gave objective results, while being capable of ensuring rather rapid analysis. PCR should be regarded as a signal test for the bacteriological search of the definite infective agent in the material under study.
Zh. Mikrobiol. (Moscow), 2003, No. 3, P. 7—11