Detection of Salmonella enteritidis in eggs by the polymerase chain reaction.
A polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for the specific detection of the gene sequence, sefA, encoded by all isolates of Salmonella enteritidis, was developed. The PCR could detect as few as four S enteritidis washed bacterial cells but egg contents inhibited the PCR. Eggs spiked with 50 S enteritidis bacterial cells were homogenised, inoculated into buffered peptone water and grown at 37 degrees C for 16 hours, when the PCR was successful. A positive internal control was developed to differentiate between true and false negative PCR results for the detection of S enteritidis. In a limited trial of the egg handling procedures and the PCR, one of 250 chickens' eggs from retail outlets was found to be contaminated with S enteritidis.
Woodward
M J
MJ
Bacteriology Department, Central Veterinary Laboratory, Addlestone, Surrey.
Kirwan
S E
SE
D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D002645:Chickens; D004531:Eggs / Q000382:microbiology*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012477:Salmonella enteritidis / Q000302:isolation & purification*