Isolation, Identification and Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) Detection of Salmonella Species from Field Materials of Poultry Origin

Abstract

Poultry salmonellosis, one of the most prevalent diseases and major source of food-borne infections to humans due to consumption of poultry products is worldwide in distribution. The study was conducted from November 2008 to March 2009 with the aim of isolating Salmonella species by conventional culture method and their confirmation by Polymerase chain reaction (PCR). A total of 220 poultry tissue samples and 40 egg samples were processed during the study period for the isolation of Salmonella and an overall prevalence of 7/260 (2.7%) was found. The isolation of Salmonella from liver and intestine accounted for the highest among tissue samples processed. The remaining isolates were from spleen, pooled tissue samples and egg sample. According to serotyping result, three of the Salmonella isolates belong to S. Heidelberg which was the most predominant serotype in the present study. Other serotypes isolated include S. Typhimurium, S. Ayinde, S. Essen and S. Kastrup. The PCR amplification of suspected Salmonella isolates produced a product of approximate molecular size 550 bp and proved for the efficient utilization of this tool for the rapid detection of Salmonella organisms.