A survey for Arcobacter spp. and Arcobacter butzleri in mechanically separated turkey was conducted during the winter of 1995 and summer and fall of 1996. Arcobacter spp. and A. butzleri were identified by polymerase chain reaction and species-specific oligonucleotide probes. Arcobacter spp. were isolated from 77% (303 out of 395) of the mechanically separated turkey samples with 74% (223 out of 303) of these samples positive for A. butzleri. Of the 121 A. butz/eri isolates tested, 86 different patterns were evident following amplification of enterobacterial repetitive intergenic consensus sequences. The extent of genetic polymorphism indicated multiple sources of contamination. RightsWorks produced by employees of the U.S. Government as part of their official duties are not copyrighted within the U.S. The content of this document is not copyrighted.

Arcobacter spp. have recently been genetically differentiated as a genus distinct from Campylobacter. Physiologically, Arcobacter spp. are aerotolerant bacteria, while Campylobacter spp. are microaerophilic. However, since Arcobacter spp. have been difficult to grow to high population densities in broth media, alternative culture techniques were investigated. A biphasic culture system was developed in 25 cm 2 tissue culture flasks. Biphasic culture, consisting of a solid phase of 10% bovine blood agar and a liquid phase of Brain Heart Infusion broth, was found to increase bacterial population densities by more than 2 log 10 cycles for strains of A. butzleri and A. skirrowii. A strain of A. cryaerophilus, which was non-culturable in broth culture, attained population densities of 10 9 cells ml -1 in biphasic culture. Neither the addition of fetal bovine serum to the liquid nor an increase in the surface area from 25 to 75 cm 2 resulted in increased cell densities. Infusion broth, was found to increase bacterial population densities by more than 2 log,,, cycles for strains of A. butzleri and A. skirrowii. A strain of A. cryaerophilus, which was non-culturable in broth culture, attained population densities of lo9 cells ml-' in biphasic culture. Neither the addition of fetal bovine serum to the liquid nor an increase in the surface area from 25 to 75 cm2 resulted in increased cell densities.