Development and application of RTi-PCR method for common food pathogen presence and quantity in beef, sheep and chicken meat

Two different RTi-PCR protocol were designed and quantifications were validated by using various amounts of DNA. Multiplex AGR1 and AGR2 RTi-PCR amplification reactions quantified successfully for Clostridium perfringens, Enterococcus faecalis, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Salmonella enterica. Using the validated multiplex RTi-PCR reactions, the presence and quantification of pathogens were investigated in 40 beef, 41 sheep and 30 chicken meat samples. Results showed that the existence of C. perfringens, E. faecalis and S. aureus was 79%, 86% and 94%, respectively in the samples. Presence of E. coli O157:H7 and S. enterica were 90% and 91% in meat samples. The results showed that many meat samples were contaminated by examined five pathogens. Therefore, it is considered that these samples may pose a potential risk to the human health since same equipment are used for different animals in the slaughterhouse. This neglect increases the amount of pathogenic contamination.