INCIDENCE OF LISTERIA SPP AND LISTERIA-MONOCYTOGENES IN READY-TO-EAT CHICKEN AND TURKEY PRODUCTS DETERMINED BY POLYMERASE CHAIN-REACTION AND LINE PROBE ASSAY HYBRIDIZATION

The prevelance of Listeria spp. and Listeria monocytogenes in ready-to -eat poultry products was examined. Following 16 or 48 h of enrichment and selective plating, presumptive Listeria colonies were identified using polymerase chain reaction and reverse hybridization on line prob e assay strips. Overall. Listeria spp. and Listeria monocytogenes were found in 35.5% and 15.5% of the poultry samples, respectively. The in cidence of Listeria spp, was much higher in unpackaged (41.7%) than in prepackaged (11.1%) poultry products.