The development of multiplex PCR assays, such as the use of
group-specific PCR primer pairs, will provide potential tools for the
identification and grouping of Listeria species (Bubert et al., 1999;
Huang et al., 2007; Lawrence & Gilmour, 1994; Wesley, Harmon,
Dickson, & Schwartz, 2002). The multiplex PCR assay has the potential
to be used in routine diagnostic laboratories and also might
be very useful as a rapid screening tool in food testing laboratories
to quickly identify food samples. Bubert et al. (1999) have developed
multiplex PCR to differentiate Listeria species using 5 primer
pairs designed based on iap gene that is common to all Listeria
species. However, they failed to discriminate L. ivanovii, L. seeligeri
and L. welshimeri simultaneously. Also, Doumith et al. (2004) have
discriminated total 222 L. monocytogenes strains including nine
serovars isolated from foods and patients into four groups by
multiplex PCR.
In this study, we have developed a novel multiplex PCR assay to
identify six Listeria species with high accuracy. To our knowledge,
this is a first study to discriminate six Listeria species using