Preliminary report on PCR detection of faecal microflora in Prunella collaris

  • V. Kmeť Institute of Animal Physiology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Šoltésovej 4, 040 01 Košice, Slovakia
  • B. Žatkovič Institute of Animal Physiology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Šoltésovej 4, 040 01 Košice, Slovakia
  • P. Pristaš Institute of Animal Physiology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Šoltésovej 4, 040 01 Košice, Slovakia
Keywords: Alpine Accentor, Bifidobacteria, faecal microflora, high mountains, PCR, Prunella collaris

Abstract

We compared the diversity of chromosomal DNA isolated from Alpine Accentor (Prunella collaris) faeces collected from various locations in high mountains of Slovakia, Austria and Switzerland in two different years (1998 and 1999). The microflora was extracted, purified and analysed without cultivation. Bacterial 16S rDNA was amplified by PCR and the amplification products analysed by RFLP analysis. We consider this genetic approach a suitable method to characterise microbial community changes, because cultivation experiments only show the presence of a limited range of live bacterial species (Enterococcus spp. and Enterobacter spp.). Our results showed that the diversity of faecal microflora varied according to the year rather than the site of sample collection. In addition, using genus-specific primers, we showed the presence of Bifidobacterium spp. in faecal samples from the Alps.

Published
2004-12-01
How to Cite
Kmeť, V., Žatkovič, B., & Pristaš, P. (2004). Preliminary report on PCR detection of faecal microflora in Prunella collaris. Oecologia Montana, 13(1-2), 42-45. Retrieved from http://om.vuvb.uniza.sk/index.php/OM/article/view/177