title: Comparison of automated BAX PCR and standard culture methods for detection of Listeria monocytogenes in blue Crabmeat (Callinectus sapidus) and blue crab processing plants.
abstract: This study compared the automated BAX PCR with the standard culture method (SCM) to detect Listeria monocytogenes in blue crab processing plants. Raw crabs, crabmeat, and environmental sponge samples were collected monthly from seven processing plants during the plant operating  season, May through November 2006. For detection of L. monocytogenes in raw crabs and crabmeat, enrichment was performed in Listeria enrichment broth, whereas for environmental samples, demi-Fraser broth was used, and then plating on both Oxford agar and L. monocytogenes  plating medium was done. Enriched samples were also analyzed by BAX PCR. A total of 960 samples were examined; 59 were positive by BAX PCR and 43 by SCM. Overall, there was no significant difference (P ≤ 0.05) between the methods for detecting the presence of L. monocytogenes  in samples collected from crab processing plants. Twenty-two and 18 raw crab samples were positive for L. monocytogenes by SCM and BAX PCR, respectively. Twenty and 32 environmental samples were positive for L. monocytogenes by SCM and BAX PCR, respectively, whereas only one  and nine finished products were positive. The sensitivities of BAX PCR for detecting L. monocytogenes in raw crabs, crabmeat, and environmental samples were 59.1, 100, and 60%, respectively. The results of this study indicate that BAX PCR is as sensitive as SCM for detecting L. monocytogenes  in crabmeat, but more sensitive than SCM for detecting this bacterium in raw crabs and environmental samples.
authors: Food Science and Technology Program, Department of Agriculture, Food and Resource Sciences, 2116 Center for Food Science and Technology, University of Maryland Eastern Shore, Princess Anne, Maryland 21853, USA.
authors: Sivaranjani
authors: S
authors: Pagadala
authors: Salina
authors: S
authors: Parveen
authors: Jurgen G
authors: JG
authors: Schwarz
authors: Thomas
authors: T
authors: Rippen
authors: John B
authors: JB
authors: Luchansky
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003386:Brachyura / Q000382:microbiology*; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial / Q000379:methods*; D004783:Environmental Microbiology; D005506:Food Contamination / Q000032:analysis*; D005525:Food-Processing Industry / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D008089:Listeria monocytogenes / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*; D012621:Seasons; D012758:Shellfish / Q000382:microbiology*