Bacterial gene detection was performed by real-time PCR using a minor groove binding probe to amplify the RNA polymerase B-subunit gene of B. uniformis and B. vulgatus, and the a-1-6 mannanase gene of B. thetaiotaomicron. At least 1 of these bacteria was detected in the feces of 20 donors; the proportions of B. uniformis, B. vulgatus and B. thetaiotaomicron were 95, 85 and 60 percent, respectively. Bacteroides vulgatus was also detected in one of six vaginal fluid samples, but B. thetaiotaomicron and B. uniformis were not detected in body samples other than feces. Further, the authors applied this method to forensic specimens from 18 donors. Eighteen anal adhesions also contained at least 1 of 3 bacteria; B. uniformis, B. vulgatus and B. thetaiotaomicron were detected in 89, 78 and 56 percent, respectively, of the specimens. Thus, these bacteria were present at a high frequency in the fecal and forensic specimens, while either B. uniformis or B. vulgatus was detected in all samples. Therefore, B. uniformis and B. vulgatus represent more appropriate target species than B. thetaiotaomicron for the identification of fecal material. If B. vulgatus and/or B. uniformis are detected, it is likely that the sample contains feces. Taken together, the results suggest that the use of molecular biological techniques will aid the detection of feces in forensic practice, although it is possible that the samples contained both feces and vaginal fluid. (Published Abstract)