DETECTION OF SALMONELLA SPP IN OYSTERS USING POLYMERASE CHAIN-REACTIONS (PCR) AND GENE PROBES

The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) DNA amplification method was used to identify oligonucleotide primers from a target gene, hns, to specif ically detect Salmonella spp. in contaminated oysters. The primers for PCR amplification and a hybridizing oligonucleotide probe to detect t he amplified DNA were specific for all Salmonella spp. tested. Modific ation of a procedure for extracting DNA from oyster tissue matrices fo llowed by PCR amplification, and coupled with gene-probe hybridization detected < 40 cells of seeded or naturally occurring Salmonella spp./ g of oyster meat samples without any enrichment step. The detection of Salmonella spp. was reliable, sensitive, and required considerably le ss time than conventional microbiological culture methods.