environmental assay data sheet

Bacillus screen

Test code: B0113 - Ultrasensitive qualitative detection of Bacillus bacteria by real time PCR protocols:

Bacillus is a genus of rod-shaped gram-positive bacteria that consists of at least 266 species. These bacteria are either obligate aerobes or facultative anaerobes, and are usually catalase positive. One major characteristic of these bacteria is the formation of spores which allow these bacteria to remain dormant for years. These bacteria occur ubiquitously. Some of the Bacillus bacteria can cause significant human diseases. For example, B. anthracis can cause anthrax in human; ingestion of B. cereus leads to severe food poisoning; B. subtilis infection can lead to endocarditis, pneumonia, and septicemia especially in patients with immunological disorders. Because of the ubiquitous nature of these bacteria, contamination of medical instruments and food products can be of significant concern, especially to people with compromised immune systems.

Bacillus bacteria can also be useful to humans. For example, B. subtilis produces amylase which is widely used in industrial and agricultural processing applications due to its high degree of stability. B. thuringiensis can produce Cry proteins which are natural pesticides.

Culture detection of these bacteria has been used to provide a presumptive diagnosis of infection. However, due to many bacteria sharing the same phenotypic and biochemical characteristics as Bacillus bacteria, confirmation of infection requires exhaustive testing. Molecular detection by polymerase chain reaction is an alternative which provides highly sensitive and specific confirmation of the presence of these bacteria.

Bacillus species detected by this assay include B. subtilis, B. anthracis, B. cereus, B. tequilensis, B. vallismortis, B. inaquosorum, B. intestinalis, B. stratosphericus, B. spizizenii, B. amyloliquefaciens, B. inaquosus, B. tequilensis, B. vallismortis, B. mojavensis, B. licheniformis, B. vallismortis, B. flexus, B. velezensis, B. halotolerans, B. thuringiensis, B. tropicus, B. paralicheniformis, B. paranthracis, B. wiedmannii, B. pacificus, B. toyonensis, B. mycoides, B. cabrialesii, B. rugosus, B. haikouensis, B. nitratireducens. B. siamensis, B. haynesii.

Utilities:

• Check for Bacillus species in facilities, buildings, soil, ventilation systems, or goods
• Selection of appropriate remediation regimens
• Check for post-remediation absence of Bacillus species
• Help confirm the presence of disease-causing agents in animals
• Early prevention of the spread of Bacillus species among animals in facilities
• Help minimize human exposure to Bacillus species

References: Priha, O. et al. (2004) Detection of Bacillus cereus group bacteria from cardboard and paper with real-time PCR. J. Industrial Microbiol. and Biotechnol., 31: 161–169

Specimen requirements: 0.2 ml cell culture, or environmental surface swab (cotton or synthetic tip) or swipe pad (approx 2" x 2"), or 2 ml of soil, or 0.2 ml feces or fecal swab, or 0.2 ml EDTA whole blood, or 0.2 ml fresh or frozen tissue.

Contact Zoologix if advice is needed to determine an appropriate specimen type for a specific diagnostic application. For specimen types not listed here, please contact Zoologix to confirm specimen acceptability and shipping instructions.

For all specimen types, if there will be a delay in shipping, or during very warm weather, refrigerate specimens until shipped and ship with a cold pack unless more stringent shipping requirements are specified. Frozen specimens should be shipped so as to remain frozen in transit. See shipping instructions for more information.

Turnaround time: 2 business days

Methodology: Qualitative real time polymerase chain reaction

Normal range: Nondetected