Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 9, 2025
A High-throughput Platform for the Screening of Salmonella spp./Shigella spp.
Published on: November 7, 2018
A Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) Method to Detect Emerging Multidrug-Resistant Salmonella Infantis Harboring the
Krishna Veni1, Jerusha Stephen1, Manjusha Lekshmi1
1ICAR-Central Institute of Fisheries Education, Quality Control Laboratory, Fish Processing Technology Department, Mumbai 400061, India.
Background:
Salmonella Infantis is an emerging multidrug-resistant pathogen worldwide due to the acquisition of a megaplasmid, plasmid of emerging Salmonella Infantis (pESI). Reported initially in poultry, the distribution of pESI-harboring S. Infantis in other food types, including seafood, is unknown.
Objective:
This study aimed to develop and optimize a PCR assay for detecting the pESI in Salmonella and non-Salmonella Enterobacterales.
Methods:
A duplex PCR targeting the hilA gene and a pESI-associated gene of S. Infantis was designed, and the PCR conditions were optimized. The specificity and sensitivity of the assay were established using 119 Salmonella serovars and 51 non-Salmonella bacterial strains.
Results:
All Salmonella isolates yielded hilA PCR product, while only pESI S. Infantis was positive for both hilA and pESI genes. No amplification product was obtained with the DNA of 51 non-Salmonella bacterial strains. The detection limit of the duplex PCR was 104 CFU/mL of pure culture of pESI S. Infantis. The sensitivity of detection in artificially spiked shrimp meat was 1 CFU/g after 6 h of enrichment in lactose broth, followed by 12 h of selective enrichment in the Rappaport-Vassiliadis medium.
Conclusion:
The duplex assay will help screen seafood for Salmonella in general and pESI S. Infantis in particular. Given its high sensitivity, the PCR will be a valuable tool for seafood quality assurance. This approach decreases the typical 3-6 day identification time of Salmonella to less than 24 h.
Highlights:
S. Infantis carrying the highly transmissible megaplasmid (pESI) is a significant food safety concern. Given its rapid geographical spread and high antimicrobial-resistant traits, it is necessary to have a molecular tool that detects pESI-harboring Salmonella. This study successfully developed a duplex PCR assay that simultaneously detects Salmonella enterica and pESI S. Infantis. This molecular tool will help understand the distribution, sources, and spread of the multidrug-resistance (MDR) plasmid in the food environment.
More Related Videos
09:10Combination of Adhesive-tape-based Sampling and Fluorescence in situ Hybridization for Rapid Detection of Salmonella on Fresh Produce
Published on: October 18, 2010
08:19Modified Most Probable Number Assay to Quantify Salmonella in Raw and Ready-to-Cook Chicken Products
Published on: January 31, 2025