Rapid Quantification of <i>Salmonella</i> Typhimurium in Ground Chicken Using Immunomagnetic Chemiluminescent Assay

Many countries have established regulatory frameworks to monitor and mitigate <i>Salmonella</i> contamination in poultry products. The ability to rapidly quantify <i>Salmonella</i> is critical for poultry processors to facilitate early detection, implement corrective measures...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Sandhya Thapa, Niraj Ghimire, Fur-Chi Chen
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-04-01
Series:Microorganisms
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/13/4/871
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Summary:Many countries have established regulatory frameworks to monitor and mitigate <i>Salmonella</i> contamination in poultry products. The ability to rapidly quantify <i>Salmonella</i> is critical for poultry processors to facilitate early detection, implement corrective measures, and enhance product safety. This study aimed to develop an Immunomagnetic Chemiluminescent Assay (IMCA) for the quantification of <i>Salmonella</i> Typhimurium in ground chicken. Immunomagnetic microbeads functionalized with monoclonal antibodies were employed to selectively capture and concentrate <i>Salmonella</i> from ground chicken samples. A biotin-labeled monoclonal antibody, followed by an avidin-horseradish peroxidase conjugate, was used to bind the captured bacteria and initiate a chemiluminescent reaction catalyzed by peroxidase. Light emission was quantified in relative light units (RLUs) using two luminometers. Ground chicken samples were inoculated with a four-strain S. Typhimurium cocktail ranging from 0 to 3.5 Log CFU/g. Bacterial concentrations were confirmed using the Most Probable Number (MPN) method. Samples underwent enrichment in Buffered Peptone Water (BPW) supplemented with BAX MP Supplement at 42 °C for 6 and 8 h before analysis via IMCA. A linear regression analysis demonstrated that the optimal quantification of <i>Salmonella</i> was achieved at the 8 h enrichment period (R<sup>2</sup> ≥ 0.89), as compared to the 6 h enrichment. The limit of quantification (LOQ) was determined to be below 1 CFU/g. A strong positive correlation (R<sup>2</sup> ≥ 0.88) was observed between IMCA and MPN results, indicating methodological consistency. These findings support the application of IMCA as a rapid and reliable method for the detection and quantification of <i>Salmonella</i> in ground chicken.
ISSN:2076-2607