Innovative Methods for Removal of PCR Inhibitors for Quantitative Detection of Plesiomonas shigelloides in Oysters by Real-Time PCR

A quantitative assay for Plesiomonas shigelloides in pure culture and oysters based on the real-time polymerase chain reaction (Rti-PCR) was developed. The methodology involved the treatment of oyster tissue homogenates with formaldehyde, differential centrifugation, and treatment of samples with activated charcoal coated with Pseudomonas fluorescens. With seeded oyster tissue homogenates, without formaldehyde or coated charcoal treatments, the lowest level of detection for P. shigelloides was 1 × 10⁷ genomic targets per gram of tissue, equivalent to 2.5 × 10⁵ genomic targets per Rti-PCR. The addition of 4% formaldehyde to tissue homogenates reduced the minimum level of detection of P. shigelloides to 1 × 10⁵ genomic targets per gram of tissue, equivalent to 2.5 × 10³ genomic targets per real-time PCR. The treatment of tissue homogenates with only activated charcoal coated with P. fluorescens reduced the minimum level of detection of P. shigelloides to 1 × 10⁴ genomic targets per gram, equivalent to 2.5 × 10² genomic targets per real-time PCR, without DNA purification or enrichment. The combination of adding 4.0% formaldehyde to oyster tissue homogenates and treating with coated charcoal reduced the level of detection of P. shigelloides to 1 × 10³ genomic targets per gram, equivalent to 25 genomic targets per real-time PCR. The linear range of detection was from 1 × 10³ to 1 × 10⁶ genomic targets per gram without enrichment.