Real-time PCR Methods for the Detection of "Listeria monocytogenes" in Foods

Abstract

Listeria monocytogenes is a bacterial pathogen that causes serious localized and generalized infections in humans. Traditional detection methods of this pathogen involves two enrichment steps and a final isolation in two specific culture media, and a final confirmation using biochemical and/or molecular techniques, and therefore more than 5 days are needed for a final confirmation. An alternative to accelerate results in diagnostics of this pathogen in food is the application of real-time PCR-based methods. They can provide highly selective results with a considerable reduction of the time for analysis. This new methodology has been implemented satisfactory in a wide spectrum of food categories including those more relevant to the transmission of this pathogen to humans.