Rapid and Simultaneous Identification of Two Salmonella enterica Serotypes, Enteritidis and Typhimurium from Chicken and Meat Products by Multiplex PCR

In order to overcome the large volume of work required to detect and identify food samples that may contain Salmonella enterica serotypes Enteritidis and Typhimurium, multiplex polymerase chain reaction (m-PCR) was used as a diagnostic tool to identify Salmonella enterica, Salmonella enterica ser. Enteritidis and Typhimurium in naturally contaminated meat and poultry products. Three sets of known S. enterica and serotypes S. enteritidis and S. typhimurium specific primers were applied to simultaneous identification of such pathogens in the most frequently used fresh and frozen meat (beef and lamb) and poultry (chicken) products (whole, cut, ground and processed) collected from eight locations within Irbid city (Jordan). Out of 93 samples, Only 21 (22.5%) samples contained serotype S. typhimurium alone. Nineteen samples (20%) showed the 312 bp specific band for serotype S. enteritidis specific band. A total of 28 (30%) samples showed only for S. enterica genus and 25 (26.8%) samples showed both serotypes S. enteritidis and S. typhimurium. In general, 46 (49.5%) samples contained serotype S. typhimurium, while 44 (47.3%) samples contained serotype S. enteritidis. Multiplex PCR amplification was shown to be an effective and rapid method for the simultaneous identification of such pathogens in food samples.