Molecular Detection of Some Salmonella spp. in Chicken from Local Markets in Baghdad

Abstract

Salmonella species stand as notably significant foodborne pathogens worldwide. The objective of this research was to compare the outcomes obtained from standard microbiological methods and the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) technique for detecting Salmonella spp. Each isolate was subsequently subjected to validation through various cultural media, including Tetrathionate Broth Base as enrichment media and desoxycholate citrate agar, SS agar, and XLD agar, which were utilized to distinguish colonies. Moreover, the antibiotic susceptibility profile was assessed, revealing resistance to Penicillins , fluoroquinolones, and third-generation Cephalosporins while displaying sensitivity to aminoglycosides, Sulfonamides, and carbapenems. Polymerase Chain Reaction has been employed to identify the presence of Salmonella, specifically the Typhimurium strain, implicated in cases of foodborne diseases within chicken markets in Iraq. Salmonella identity was accomplished by detecting the invA gene, which is indicative of the Salmonella genus. Additionally, the stm gene specific to Salmonella Typhimurium was targeted using PCR, allowing identification of Salmonella spp. and specifically Salmonella Typhimurium. Furthermore, the outcomes unveiled that PCR identified Salmonella spp. presence in 20% of the specimens. Paralleling the findings of conventional microbiological techniques. The PCR approach successfully detected Salmonella Typhimurium in 15 out of the 50 samples, accounting for 32% of the total.