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 specifically detect SulmonelIu spp. in contaminated oysters. The primers for PCR amplification and a hybridizing oligonucleotide probe to detect the amplified DNA were specific for all Salmonella spp. tested. Modification of a procedure for extracting DNA from oyster tissue matrices followed by PCR amplification, and coupled with gene-probe hybridization detected <40 cells of seeded or naturally occurring Sulmonella spp./g of oyster meat samples without any enrichment step. The detection of SaZmonella spp. was reliable, sensitive, and required considerably less time than conventional microbiological culture methods.