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Journal of Clinical Microbiology, February 2003, p. 896-899, Vol. 41, No. 2
0095-1137/03/$08.00+0     DOI: 10.1128/JCM.41.2.896-899.2003
Copyright © 2003, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

PCR Assay To Detect Bacillus anthracis Spores in Heat-Treated Specimens

A. Fasanella,1* S. Losito,1 R. Adone,2 F. Ciuchini,2 T. Trotta,1 S. A. Altamura,1 D. Chiocco,1 and G. Ippolito3

Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Puglia e della Basilicata, Foggia,1 Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Laboratorio di Medicina Veterinaria,2 Istituto Nazionale per le Malattie Infettive Lazzaro Spallanzani, Rome, Italy3

Received 29 May 2002/ Returned for modification 5 August 2002/ Accepted 13 November 2002

Recent interest in anthrax is due to its potential use in bioterrorism and as a biowarfare agent against civilian populations. The development of rapid and sensitive techniques to detect anthrax spores in suspicious specimens is the most important aim for public health. With a view to preventing exposure of laboratory workers to viable Bacillus anthracis spores, this study evaluated the suitability of PCR assays for detecting anthrax spores previously inactivated at 121°C for 45 min. The results indicate that heat treatment ensures the complete inactivation of B. anthracis spores without significantly affecting the efficiency of PCR assays.

* Corresponding author. Mailing address: Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Puglia e della Basilicata, Via Manfredonia 20, 71100 Foggia, Italy. Phone: 39-0881-786330. Fax: 39-0881-786362. E-mail: antoniofasanella{at}interfree.it.

Journal of Clinical Microbiology, February 2003, p. 896-899, Vol. 41, No. 2
0095-1137/03/$08.00+0     DOI: 10.1128/JCM.41.2.896-899.2003
Copyright © 2003, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.



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