DETECTION OF FOOD-BORNE PATHOGENS IN CHICKEN MEAT SOLD IN RETAIL OUTLETS OF CHENNAI CITY

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Contaminated poultry meat is regarded as a major source of food-borne pathogens, so the present study was under taken to screen the raw broiler chicken breast meat samples for the presence of food-borne pathogens viz. Salmonella spp., Campylobacter jejuni and Staphylococcus aureus collected from different retail outlets in Chennai city, India. The presence of Salmonella spp., C. jejuni and S. aureus was assessed by cultural method and species-specific PCR assay. The polymerase chain reaction was carried out by targeting the invA, flaA and nuc gene for Salmonella spp., C. jejuni and S. aureus respectively. Out of 60 samples, the frequency of isolation of S. aureus and C. jejuni was 16.6 and 11.6% respectively by both the methods. However, in case of Salmonella spp. the isolation rate was noted to be 10% and 15% by cultural method and PCR assay respectively. The PCR assay was found to be more specific for identification of Salmonella spp. Cultural method combined with PCR assay would provide a holistic approach in terms of sensitivity and specificity with regards to identification of these food-borne pathogens. The above findings also indicate the need of creating awareness among general public and butchers operating retail meat shop regarding good hygienic practice before, after cooking and during processing of carcass. Identifying the source of these organisms at the farm level will also help to control the entry of these organisms in food.