Lyophilization prior to direct DNA extraction from bovine feces improves the quantification of Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Campylobacter jejuni.

Lyophilization was used to concentrate bovine feces prior to DNA extraction and analysis using real-time PCR. Lyophilization significantly improved the sensitivity of detection compared to that in fresh feces and was associated with reliable quantification of both Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Campylobacter jejuni bacteria present in feces at concentrations ranging between 2 log(10) and 6 log(10) CFU g(-)(1).