Multiple Locus Variable Number Tandem Repeat Analysis (MLVA) for Genotyping of Egyptian Brucella Isolates

摘要

In this comparative study, three Brucella vaccinal strains namely S19, RB51 and Rev-1 along withthree Brucella reference strains designated as ETHER (Brucella melitensis biovar 3), 16M (Brucellamelitensis biovar 1) and REO198 (Brucella ovis), in addition to 6 local isolates recovered from different animalspecies that proved to be Brucella melitensis biovar 3 biochemically and serologically. Multiplex PCR andMLVA were used to differentiate between the aforementioned Brucella strains. Multiplex PCR and MLVA usingonly three primer pairs to amplify three minisatellites loci in panel 1 were very successful and accurate in termsof characterization and typing of Brucella vaccines, reference and wild Brucella strains. Multiplex PCR andMLVA data were closely identical to those obtained by the traditional methods of identification. However, themolecular typing of the Brucella strains by multiplex PCR and MLVA had several advantages over the use ofthe conventional methods being very fast, precise, easier, more sensitive and economic and could be appliedon minimal sample preparation. So, PCR and MLVA is a reliable tool in testing of the seed culture during thepreparation of Brucella vaccines as well as in evaluating them in quality control laboratories, also powerfulepidemiological tools for detection and diagnosis of brucellosis and helping in determining the situation ofthe disease.