Abstract: | DNA polymorphisms of Arcobacter butzleri outbreak-related strains and Arcobacter reference strains were determined by use of the polymerase chain reaction with primers aimed at repetitive sequences. The epidemiological relationship among 14 outbreak-related strains was substantiated, as they showed virtually no genomic variations. Their DNA amplification patterns were, however, clearly different from those of all Arcobacter reference strains studied; each reference strain was characterized by a unique DNA fingerprint. |