Comparison of Media for the Detection of <i>Campylobacter jejuni</i> Using a Commercial RT-PCR System

The accurate quantification of <i>Campylobacter jejuni</i> in poultry samples is critical for ensuring food safety and compliance with regulatory standards. This study evaluated the performance of three enrichment media—Mueller–Hinton Broth (MHB), Bolton’s Blood-Free Broth 2x (BFBB2x), a...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Elena G. Olson, Aaron R. Bodie, Haley A. Tarcin, Peter M. Rubinelli, Savannah F. Applegate, Tyler P. Stephens, Michael J. Rothrock, Steven C. Ricke
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-02-01
Series:Pathogens
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0817/14/2/166
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Summary:The accurate quantification of <i>Campylobacter jejuni</i> in poultry samples is critical for ensuring food safety and compliance with regulatory standards. This study evaluated the performance of three enrichment media—Mueller–Hinton Broth (MHB), Bolton’s Blood-Free Broth 2x (BFBB2x), and Buffered Peptone Water (BPW)—in supporting <i>C. jejuni</i> detection and quantification using the BAX<sup>®</sup> Q7-RT PCR system and traditional plate count methods. Results demonstrated high reliability across all media types, with BFBB2x and MHB showing the strongest correlations (R<sup>2</sup> = 0.99) for the BAX<sup>®</sup> system. BFBB2x exhibited the lowest RMSE (0.13), while MHB balanced precision (RMSE = 0.4) with sensitivity. For plate counts, MHB and BPW achieved the highest correlations (R<sup>2</sup> = 0.99) and precision (RMSE = 0.26), with MHB demonstrating the lowest detection limit (2.56 log<sub>10</sub> CFU/mL) compared to BFBB2x (2.93 log<sub>10</sub> CFU/mL) and BPW (3.31 log<sub>10</sub> CFU/mL). The findings underscore MHB’s robustness as an enrichment medium, offering consistent performance across both molecular and culture-based methods. The current study supports MHB as the more effective medium for the reliable and precise quantification of <i>C. jejuni</i> in poultry-associated matrices, highlighting its utility in minimizing contamination risks and enhancing food safety. Future research should explore its applicability in diverse poultry products and production environments.
ISSN:2076-0817