[Comparison of the two different PCR assays for the detection of thermotolerant Campylobacter in poultry].

In this study two PCR-assays were compared for there suitability in routine food-examination. The rapid and sensitive seminested PCR assay of Wegmueller et al. (1993) provides a useful tool for specific detection of thermotolerant Campylobacter spp. in poultry. For laboratories, which have not established hybridisation technique yet, the seminested PCR assay fulfills the necessity to verify the amplicons (Anonymous, 1998 a) and provides therefore an alternative to the published provisional method according to section 35 LMBG (Anonymous, 2000). The results clearly show that the pg50/pg3-PCR assay (Oyofo et al., 1992) isn't a useful screening method because there is a strong necessity to verify the obtained amplicons by southernblot-hybridization in order to increase sensitivity and specificity. To avoid false-negative results extern amplification controls are reliable tools. The commercially available DNA-Extraction kit used in this study facilitates rapid and effective extraction of bacterial DNA out of food matrix.