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A comparative study of the conventional culture and PCR method for the detection of artificially inoculated Listeria monocytogenes from milk was conducted. Sensitivity increased appreciably after enrichment in modified University of Vermont Medium-2 (MUVM-2) by both the methods. However, conventional culture method was found to be more sensitive than PCR as it could detect a milk sample having L. monocytogenes count as low as 30 CFU/ml whereas PCR could detect a milk sample having a cell count only upto 3x103 CFU/ml after 24 hours of enrichment. PCR could detect as low as 7-8 bacteria per reaction based on the reaction volume used. Thus, PCR may be a preferable method for the detection of L. monocytogenes while screening a large number of samples, as it is rapid, less laborious, quite economical and reliable.
Keywords: L. monocytogenes, Milk, PCR and Culture method
* Environmental Biotechnology Lab, Department of Zoology, Dayalbagh Educational Institute, Agra 282005, India
2 Biochemical Genetics Lab, Department of Zoology, Dayalbagh Educational Institute, Agra 282005, India.
E-mail: sa_ntprakash@yahoo.co.in
2007-062 Date received:April 2006; Accepted:June 2007.
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