Simultaneous multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction detection of Salmonella spp., Escherichia coli O157, Vibrio parahaemolyticus, Vibrio cholerae, Listeria monocytogenes and Campylobacter spp.

Abstract

Foodborne illness is a global burden that impacts a country politically, economically and socio-economically. The severity of the burden can be unmeasurable as foodborne illness is often an underestimated problem. In order to enlighten the burden, appropriate food safety control measures should be taken. This study aimed to optimize a multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction (mPCR) detection method to identify foodborne pathogens simultaneously. Six foodborne pathogens namely, Salmonella spp., Escherichia coli O157, Vibrio parahaemolyticus, Vibrio cholerae, Listeria monocytogenes and Campylobacter spp., were targeted in the mPCR detection method. Each mPCR parameter was tested and the outcome was analysed to obtain a successful mPCR protocol to detect the targeted foodborne pathogens. The amplified PCR products showed that the optimized mPCR protocol will be a potential rapid diagnostic tool in foodborne pathogen detection.