Rapid Detection of Escherichia coli O157:H7 in Fresh-Cut Cabbage by Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction

Author(s):  
Yun-Ji Kim
2006 ◽  
Vol 52 (10) ◽  
pp. 992-998 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jane Holicka ◽  
Rebecca A Guy ◽  
Anita Kapoor ◽  
David Shepherd ◽  
Paul A Horgen

The purpose of this study was to apply our rapid, integrated double enrichment 5′ nuclease real-time polymerase chain reaction assay for the detection of Escherichia coli O157:H7 and evaluate its efficacy. The assay targeted ground beef, an important vehicle in disease epidemiology. The assay reliably determined in 8 h the presence of E. coli O157:H7 in ground beef at the level of 1 colony-forming unit (CFU)/g. The sensitivity and specificity of the assay were compared with that of standard enrichment diagnostic techniques. A correlation of 100% in detection was achieved to the limit of 1 CFU/g. This assay can be used as a rapid, automatic process for identification of E. coli O157:H7 in ground beef or can be integrated with standard culture procedures, resulting in considerable cost and time savings.Key words: real-time PCR, E. coli O157:H7, ground beef, molecular diagnostics, rapid O157:H7 assay.


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