Rapid Detection of Staphylococcus aureus in Dairy Foods Using Real-Time qPCR | ||
| Egyptian Journal of Veterinary Sciences | ||
| Articles in Press, Corrected Proof, Available Online from 16 November 2025 PDF (921.58 K) | ||
| Document Type: Original Article | ||
| DOI: 10.21608/ejvs.2025.413267.3040 | ||
| Authors | ||
| Saadia El-Shinawy1; Asmaa Abdallah2; Samia Afify3; Ahmed M. Korany* 4 | ||
| 1Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Beni-Suef University | ||
| 2Department of Food Hygiene, Animal Health Research Institute, Beni-Suef Lab (AHRI), Agriculture Research Centre (ARC), Egypt | ||
| 3Department of Bacteriology and Immunology, Animal Health Research Institute, Beni-Suef Lab (AHRI), Agriculture Research Centre (ARC), Egypt. | ||
| 4Department of Food Safety & Technology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Beni-Suef University, Beni-Suef, 62511, Egypt | ||
| Abstract | ||
| Dairy food safety represents a significant public health concern due to the potential transmission of foodborne pathogens through contaminated dairy products. This study aimed to develop and evaluate a rapid, sensitive, and reliable real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) assay for detecting and quantifying Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) in various dairy products by targeting the enterotoxin B gene (SEB). A total of 150 dairy samples were analyzed, including 30 small-scale yoghurt, 30 large-scale yoghurt, 60 Domiati cheese samples, and 30 cereal-based infant foods containing milk. All samples were examined using both the qPCR protocol and the conventional plate count method for S. aureus detection. The incidence rates of S. aureus were 23.3% (14/60) in Domiati cheese, 13.3% (4/30) in small-scale yogurt, 3.3% (1/30) in large-scale yogurt, and 6.6% (2/30) in cereal-based infant foods containing milk. The developed qPCR assay demonstrated a detection limit of approximately 1 log CFU/ml for S. aureus harbouring the enterotoxin B gene. A strong correlation (R² = 0.998) was observed between viable plate counts (log CFU/ml) and qPCR copy numbers (Ct values). The qPCR assay exhibited higher sensitivity and markedly saved time compared with the conventional method. Furthermore, the logistic growth model revealed a significant correlation coefficient (R² = 0.754), confirming a strong positive linear relationship. Overall, the qPCR approach was a more rapid, precise, and reliable molecular tool for detecting and quantifying S. aureus contamination in dairy food, thereby enhancing food safety monitoring and public health protection. | ||
| Keywords | ||
| Staphylococcus aureus; Enterotoxin genes; Dairy food; qPCR detection | ||
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