Purpose: The purpose of this study was to develop a rapid, test strip-based method for the detection of Group B Salmonella in poultry house environmental and raw poultry samples.
Methods: Monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies were developed against Group B Salmonella and incorporated into a lateral flow test strip. The test strip was characterized against a panel of 71 Salmonellaspp. strains representing 26 serogroups including 24 Group B strains. The test strip was coupled to a bacteriophage-based enrichment method and used in a spiked poultry house environmental sample study and a naturally-contaminated raw ground chicken study.
Results: The test strip gave 100% sensitivity and specificity in the Inclusivity / Exclusivity study. All Salmonella Group B strains were detected and none of the non-Group B strains were detected. For both the spiked poultry house environmental sample study and the naturally-contaminated raw ground chicken study, the method gave 100% sensitivity and specificity. For both sample types, all results from the test strip method culturally-confirmed (n=90). The Chi-square for the results obtained by the test strip method and the cultural method was 0.000 (p>0.999). Probability of Detection (POD) analysis showed no significant differences between the test method and the cultural method.
Significance: The new test method should provide the users with a rapid and reliable tool for monitoring and controlling Salmonella Group B serovars in live production environments and in food product.