Restriction fragment length polymorphisms in the ribosomal genes for species identification and subtyping of aerotolerant Campylobacter species.

Whole-cell chromosomal digests of 84 strains of aerotolerant Campylobacter (AC) were examined by using PvuII restriction fragment length polymorphisms of rRNA genes followed by hybridization with Escherichia coli 16S and 23S rRNA (ribotyping). The AC strains belonged to Campylobacter cryaerophila (n = 13) and a newly defined species, "C. butzleri" (n = 64). Strains of C. cryaerophila belonged to two hybridization groups: DNA group 1A (including the type strain of C. cryaerophila) and DNA group 1B (J. A. Kiehlbauch, D. J. Brenner, M. A. Nicholson, C. N. Baker, C. M. Patton, A. G. Steigerwalt, and I. K. Wachsmuth, J. Clin. Microbiol. 29:376-385, 1991). Six AC strains not classified as C. cryaerophila or "C. butzleri" were also included. All 35 sporadic human and animal isolates of "C. butzleri" sent to the Centers for Disease Control for identification showed different ribotype patterns. However, most "C. butzleri" strains contained common bands at approximately 3.0, 6.2, 12.0, and 15.0 kb; the 3.0-kb band was present in all but four strains. An additional 23 strains of "C. butzleri," isolated as part of special studies, contained the 3.0-kb band. Thus, on the basis of visual identification of the 3.0-kb band, 94% of available strains were correctly identified as "C. butzleri." Ribotyping demonstrated that C. cryaerophila strains (DNA groups 1A and 1B) were different from C. butzleri strains. All C. cryaerophila strains demonstrated a common ribosomal DNA restriction fragment of 3.2 kb; DNA group 1B strains contained an additional common band at 2.6 kb. Ribotyping patterns of AC species were easily distinguished from patterns of other Campylobacter, Helicobacter, and Wolinella species.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)