The objective of this work was the standardization of a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for detection of Clostridium chauvoei in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissues of guinea-pigs (Cavia porcellus) infected experimentally with this microorganism. The animals were sacrificed, and samples of muscle from inoculation area (MIA), liver, myocardium and spleen were available for PCR technique. Clostridium chauvoei was detected in all sections of the MIA, liver and myocardium, and no product was observed in sections of the spleen. Cross-reactions were not observed in sections of MIA of the animals inoculated with other clostridia, as well as no amplification was observed in sections of MIA of control animals. These results show that the PCR technique developed in this study may be useful for detection of C. chauvoei in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissues.
blackleg; malignant edema
