A Novel PCR-Based Approach for Accurate Identification of Vibrio parahaemolyticus

A PCR-based assay was developed for more accurate identification of Vibrio parahaemolyticus through targeting the bla(CARB-17) like element, an intrinsic beta-lactamase gene that may also be regarded as a novel species-specific genetic marker of this organism. Homologous analysis showed that bla(CARB-17) like genes were more conservative than the tlh. toxR and atpA genes, the genetic markers commonly used as detection targets in identification of V parahaemolyticus. Our data showed that this bla(CARB-17)-specificPCR-based detection approach consistently achieved 100% specificity, whereas PCR targeting the tlh and atpA genes occasionally produced false positive results. Furthermore, a positive result of this test is consistently associated with an intrinsic ampicillin resistance phenotype of the test organism, presumably conferred by the products of bla(CARB-17) like genes. We envision that combined analysis of the unique genetic and phenotypic characteristics conferred by bla(CARB-17) shall further enhance the detection specificity of this novel yet easy-to-use detection approach to a level superior to the conventional methods used in V parahaemolyticus detection and identification.