Real-time PCR-based rapid and culture-independent detection of Salmonella in dairy milk--addressing some core issues

A multiplex real-time PCR assay, based on invA and pagC genes, for the detection and quantification of Salmonella enterica from cattle lymph nodes

Cattle lymph nodes can harbor Salmonella and potentially contaminate beef products. We have developed and validated a new real-time PCR (qPCR) assay for the detection and quantification of Salmonella enterica in cattle lymph nodes. The assay targets both the invA and pagC genes, the most conserved molecular targets in Salmonella enterica. An 18S rRNA gene assay that amplifies from cattle and other animal species was also included as an internal control. Available DNA sequences for invA, pagC and 18S rRNA genes were used for primer and probe selections. Three Salmonella serotypes, S. Typhimurium, S. Anatum, and S. Montevideo, were used to assess the assay's analytical sensitivity. Correlation coefficients of standard curves generated for each target and for all three serotypes were >99% and qPCR amplification efficiencies were between 93% and 110%. Assay sensitivity was also determined using standard curve data generated from Salmonella-negative cattle lymph nodes spiked with 10-fold dilutions of the three Salmonella serotypes. Assay specificity was determined using Salmonella culture method, and qPCR testing on 36 Salmonella strains representing 33 serotypes, 38 Salmonella strains of unknown serotypes, 252 E. coli strains representing 40 serogroups, and 31 other bacterial strains representing 18 different species. A collection of 647 cattle lymph node samples from steers procured from the Midwest region of the US were tested by the qPCR, and compared to culture-method of detection. Salmonella prevalence by qPCR for pre-enriched and enriched lymph nodes was 19.8% (128/647) and 94.9% (614/647), respectively. A majority of qPCR positive pre-enriched samples (105/128) were at concentrations between 10⁴ and 10⁵ CFU/mL. Culture method detected Salmonella in 7.7% (50/647) and 80.7% (522/647) of pre- and post-enriched samples, respectively; 96.0% (48/50) of pre-enriched and 99.4% (519/522) of post-enriched culture-positive samples were also positive by qPCR. More samples tested positive by qPCR than by culture method, indicating that the real-time PCR assay was more sensitive. Our data indicate that this triplex qPCR can be used to accurately detect and quantify Salmonella enterica strains from cattle lymph node samples. The assay may serve as a useful tool to monitor the prevalence of Salmonella in beef production systems.

Recombinant plasmid-based quantitative Real-Time PCR analysis of Salmonella enterica serotypes and its application to milk samples

The aim of the current study was to develop, a new, rapid, sensitive and quantitative Salmonella detection method using a Real-Time PCR technique based on an inexpensive, easy to produce, convenient and standardized recombinant plasmid positive control. To achieve this, two recombinant plasmids were constructed as reference molecules by cloning the two most commonly used Salmonella-specific target gene regions, invA and ttrRSBC. The more rapid detection enabled by the developed method (21 h) compared to the traditional culture method (90 h) allows the quantitative evaluation of Salmonella (quantification limits of 10(1)CFU/ml and 10(0)CFU/ml for the invA target and the ttrRSBC target, respectively), as illustrated using milk samples. Three advantages illustrated by the current study demonstrate the potential of the newly developed method to be used in routine analyses in the medical, veterinary, food and water/environmental sectors: I--The method provides fast analyses including the simultaneous detection and determination of correct pathogen counts; II--The method is applicable to challenging samples, such as milk; III--The method's positive controls (recombinant plasmids) are reproducible in large quantities without the need to construct new calibration curves.

Rapid detection of bacteria in green tea using a novel pretreatment method in a bioluminescence assay

Tea is one of the most popular beverages consumed in the world, and green tea has become a popular beverage in Western as well as Asian countries. A novel pretreatment method for a commercial bioluminescence assay to detect bacteria in green tea was developed and evaluated in this study. Pretreatment buffers with pH levels ranging from 6.0 to 9.0 were selected from MES (morpholineethanesulfonic acid), HEPES (N-2-hydroxyethylpiperazine-N'-2-ethanesulfonic acid), or Tricine buffers. To evaluate the effect of pretreatment and the performance of the assay, serially diluted cultures of Enterobacter cloacae, Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis, and Staphylococcus aureus were tested. The improved methods, which consisted of a pretreatment of the sample in alkaline buffer, significantly decreased the background bioluminescence intensity of green tea samples when compared with the conventional method. Pretreatment with alkaline buffers with pH levels ranging from 8.0 to 9.0 increased the bioluminescence intensities of cultures of E. cloacae and S. aureus. Strong log-linear relationships between the bioluminescence intensities and plate counts emerged for the tested strains. Furthermore, the microbial detection limit was 15 CFU in 500 ml of bottled green tea after an 8-h incubation at 35°C and an assay time of 1 h. The results showed that contaminated samples could be detected within 1 h of operation using our improved bioluminescence assay. This method could be used to test for contamination during the manufacturing process as well as for statistical sampling for quality control.