COLUMBIA, Mo. Earlier this year, an outbreak of salmonella caused by infected eggs resulted in thousands of illnesses before a costly recall could be implemented. Now, University of Missouri researchers have created a new test for salmonella in poultry and eggs that will produce faster and more accurate results than most currently available tests. The new test could have prevented the contaminated eggs from being shipped to stores.
"Processors and consumers will benefit from the speed and sensitivity of the new test's results," said Azlin Mustapha, associate professor of food science in the College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources. "This will keep companies from shipping contaminated products, and thus, keep salmonella infected products out of consumers' hands."
Salmonella is the most common cause of food poisoning in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control. Salmonellosis, the disease caused by salmonella, causes diarrhea, vomiting, fever, abdominal cramps and, in severe cases, death. Mustapha said salmonella testing in poultry is important because it persists in birds' spleens and reproductive tracts. An infected bird passes the infection on to all of its eggs.
The most commonly used testing method for salmonella can take up to five days to produce results. Mustapha's research allows scientists to use a process, known as polymerase chain reaction (PCR), which can cut testing time to as little as five to 12 hours. PCR-based testing methods for salmonella have been available for use by the food industry for years, but current methods often produce false-positive results because they do not differentiate between live and dead salmonella, thus skewing the accuracy of the test. Only live salmonella cells trigger salmonellosis.
Mustapha modified the PCR test by adding a dye to the test sample. The dye is absorbed by dead salmonella cells; thus, the PCR test can ignore the dead cells. Mustapha's m
'/>"/>
| Contact: Christian Basi BasiC@missouri.edu 573-882-4430 University of Missouri-Columbia Source:Eurekalert |
Related biology news :
1. Scientists discover genes linking puberty timing to body fat in women
2. AgriLife scientist: Functional amino acids regulate key metabolic pathways
3. Bacteria use toxic darts to disable each other, according to UCSB scientists
4. New Scripps Florida scientist awarded pair of unconventional grants
5. Scientists question indicator of fisheries health, evidence for fishing down food webs
6. OSU, Oxford, others launch citizen scientist climate modeling initiative
7. Scientists learn more about how kidneys fail and how new drugs may intervene
8. Scripps Research scientists identify new mechanism regulating daily biological rhythms
9. Caltech scientists describe the delicate balance in the brain that controls fear
10. Darwins theory of gradual evolution not supported by geological history, NYU scientist concludes
11. UNC scientists identify cellular communicators for cancer virus
 |
| Copyright © 2003-2012 Bio-Medicine. All rights reserved. ABOUT | CONTACT US | DISCLAIMER | PRIVACY POLICY | TERMS AND CONDITIONS |  |