S. AHMED MOHARRAM, A.P. CHARITH RAJ AND G. R. JANARDHANA
Abstract
Listeria monocytongenes is one of the most important food-borne pathogens causing illness in humans and animals. In this study we are reporting the incidence of L. monocytogenes in ice-cream samples collected and analyzed from different ice cream Parlors of Mysore City. Eighty ice cream samples were analyzed for the Lmonocytogenes by culture method followed by Polymerase Chain Reaction(PCR) detection. Three samples (5%) out of 60 unbranded samples were positive for L. monocytogenes, none in other 20 branded samples of ice creams. To replace the lengthy, laborious and often costly, conventional, microbiological, biochemical methods, we have employed PCR technique for the quick and specific detection of L. monocytogenes using iap gene primers encode for invasive associated proteins (p60) common to all Listeria spp. PCR technique makes diagnosis of L. monocytogenes in ice creams samples much easier and more accurate.