Detection of Enterobacter sakazakii strains by real-time PCR

A precise 5' nuclease (TaqMan) real-time PCR was developed and validated in house for the specific detection of Enterobacter sakazakii isolates. Specifically designed nonpatented primers and a hydrolysis (TaqMan) probe were used to target the 16S rRNA gene. All 27 E. sakazakii and 141 non-E. sakazakii strains tested with the real-time PCR were identified correctly. To monitor false-negative results, an internal amplification control was coamplified with the same primers used for the E. sakazakii DNA. The detection probability of the assay was 56% when an E. sakazakii cell suspension containing 10(2) CFU/ml was used as template in the PCR (0.5 CFU per reaction) and 100% with a 10(3) CFU/ml suspension. This PCR assay should be very useful for the diagnostic detection of E. sakazakii in foods, especially powdered infant formula, after cultural enrichment.