鸡胴体中沙门菌的定量检测及风险评估

目的通过鸡胴体中沙门菌的定量检测,了解长春市市售鸡胴体中沙门菌的污染状况,为沙门菌的定量检测评估提供依据。方法前增菌:鸡胴体缓冲蛋白胨水淋洗后培养;增菌:TT肉汤和RV肉汤;分离:接种XLT4培养基;鉴定:API20E和沙门多价血清。结果沙门菌全年都有检出,阳性率15%~100%不等。7月份阳性率最高为100%;其次8月份为90%;6月份为80%。冷藏储存条件下鸡胴体样品中沙门菌的检出率及其含菌量均高于冷冻条件下。农贸市场鸡胴体样品中沙门菌的检出率及其含菌量均高于大型超市。要加强市售鸡胴体中各环节中沙门菌污染的监管。结论长春市市售鸡胴体中沙门菌的污染率为64.6%(155/240)。冷藏储存条件下鸡胴体样品中沙门菌的检出率及其含菌量均高于冷冻条件下。农贸市场鸡胴体样品中沙门菌的检出率及其含菌量均高于大型超市。要加强市售鸡胴体中各环节中沙门菌污染的监管。     

实时荧光定量PCR技术在SPF鸡四种垂直传播疾病监测中的应用

目的探讨荧光定量PCR检测技术对SPF鸡四种垂直传播病毒的检测应用。方法采集60份SPF鸡及70份普通鸡群蛋清、泄殖腔试子样品,提取样品核酸,分别进行ARV、REV、CAV、ALV四种病毒实时荧光定量PCR检测,根据标准曲线及溶解曲线分析判读样品病毒拷贝数。结果 SPF鸡ALV 2份阳性,检出率3.3%,其余病毒检测均为阴性;普通鸡样品REV检测2份阳性,检出率2.9%,ALV 10份阳性,检出率14.3%。结论荧光定量PCR检测方法最低可检测到100个拷贝核酸,检测灵敏度较高,有望应用于SPF鸡临床样品的病原检测。     

实时荧光定量PCR法与常规细菌鉴定法检测肠道致病菌的比较

目的比较实时荧光定量PCR法与常规细菌鉴定法检测肠道致病菌中沙门菌与志贺菌的结果并分析总结。方法对江苏盛泽医院2010年到2014年就诊的腹泻患者4 662例的粪便标本同时进行实时荧光定量PCR法与常规细菌鉴定法检测,对其结果进行统计学分析,并对所有实时荧光定量PCR检测阳性标本进行常规细菌鉴定法检测,对所有结果进行分析与总结。结果实时荧光定量PCR法检测沙门菌阳性85株,阳性率为1.82%;志贺菌阳性192株,阳性率为4.12%;常规细菌鉴定法检测沙门菌阳性81株,阳性率为1.74%;志贺菌阳性184株,阳性率为3.95%,两种方法比较差异无统计学意义(P0.05)。对实时荧光定量PCR检测阳性标本进行常规细菌鉴定法检测,阳性率为100%。结论实时荧光定量PCR法检测沙门菌与志贺菌结果可靠,检测时间短,更能满足临床诊断肠道疾病的需求。     

选择性富集沙门氏菌、副溶血弧菌和霍乱弧菌的共增菌培养基SVV

本研究通过单因素试验和响应面分析试验建立了能够选择性富集沙门氏菌、副溶血弧菌和霍乱弧菌的共增菌培养基SVV,采用平板计数法及三重荧光PCR技术验证了SVV的增菌效果。结果表明:SVV能同时富集以不同浓度比例混合的3种目标菌,37oC振荡培养18h后,菌体浓度达到105~108CFU/mL;SVV强烈抑制大部分的非目标菌;用荧光PCR方法检测经过37oC振荡培养18h的10份人工接种样品和608份实际样品,结果表明目标菌在SVV中增殖18h后菌量达到检测限以上,SVV联合荧光PCR检测方法的检出率为4.06%,比传统检测方法(3.78%)高,无假阴性和假阳性。SVV可望应用于水产品中沙门氏菌、副溶血弧菌和霍乱弧菌检测前的增菌处理,可简化检测过程,有效克服漏检,提高检出率。     

一种能同时富集沙门氏菌、金黄色葡萄球菌和单增李斯特菌的培乔基

[目的]设计制备一种能够同时富集沙门氏菌、金黄色葡萄球菌及单增李斯特菌的复合增菌肉汤.[方法]挑选合适的添加剂进行单因素实验,确定增菌肉汤的成分及配比,采用平板计数法及三重荧光PCR技术验证肉汤的增菌效果.[结果]结果得到一种能同时富集沙门氏菌、金黄色葡萄球菌及单增李斯特菌的选择性增菌肉汤(SSL),经验证SSL可使得3种目标菌以相对一致的速度进行富集,经过37℃ 150 r/min振荡培养24 h后,菌体浓度到达10~7～10~8 CFU/mL,非目标菌生长受到抑制.应用荧光PCR扩增样品,可同时得到3种目标菌的扩增曲线.在710份实际样品检测中,无假阳性及假阴性报告.[结论]研究结果表明,SSL肉汤可用于沙门氏菌、金黄色葡萄球菌及单增李斯特菌的共增菌,可用于多重PCR检测的前增菌.     

流感病毒亚单位疫苗中间体中沙门菌快速检测方法的建立

目的：建立一种能够快速、准确地检测流感病毒亚单位疫苗中间体样品中沙门菌污染的方法。方法：首先利用选择性增菌培养基对样品进行增菌培养,然后提取样品中的细菌基因组DNA,通过沙门茵特异性引物对基因组DNA进行PCR扩增,以琼脂糖凝胶电泳实现对目的片段的检测。结果：该PCR反应体系的扩增检测灵敏度可达1pg的沙门菌DNA,利用选择性增菌培养配合该PCR体系可在最快24h内实现对沙门菌的准确检测,测定结果与传统方法相符。结论：此方法应用于流感病毒亚单位疫苗中间体的沙门菌检查,较之传统的培养法结合生化鉴定的方法,大大缩短了检测周期,降低了结果判读的难度,在实际生产中有很好的应用前景。     

EvaGreen实时荧光定量PCR检测猪圆环病毒2型方法的建立

根据GenBank中的猪圆环病毒2型(PCV2)ORF4基因序列设计一对特异性引物,通过常规PCR扩增PCV2的ORF4基因,并将其纯化的PCR产物克隆入pMD18-T载体中,构建重组质粒。应用该重组质粒进行EvaGreen实时荧光定量PCR,建立了PCV2 DNA的标准曲线,并进行熔解曲线分析。结果显示:建立的EvaGreen实时荧光定量PCR特异性强,与其他非靶标病毒基因不发生交叉反应;灵敏度高,最高可检测到10拷贝/μL的病毒量;重复性好,3个浓度的批间和批内的变异系数均小于2.5%;对118份临床样品进行检测,阳性样品25份,阳性率为21.2%,检测结果与普通PCR相符率为99.2%,其中一份样品经荧光PCR检测为PCV2阳性,普通PCR检测为阴性。结果表明,建立的EvaGreen实时荧光定量PCR方法具有特异性强、敏感度高、重复性好、简便快捷等特点,可用于临床PCV2感染的早期诊断以及分子流行病学调查。     

沙门菌常见O抗原和H抗原荧光PCR检测方法评估

目的:评估沙门菌常见A~F血清群O抗原和H抗原荧光PCR检测方法对不同血清型沙门菌的检测效果。方法:选用不同血清型沙门菌制备模板,运用沙门菌O抗原A~F群及不同H抗原荧光PCR检测试剂盒对这些菌株进行扩增检测,分别计算不同血清型检测结果的灵敏度、特异度、检测下限、假阳性率、假阴性率、Kappa值等指标并进行分析。结果:对7种不同沙门菌O抗原的检测灵敏度为85.71%~100.00%,特异度为66.67%~100.00%;对7种不同沙门菌H抗原的检测,H1,5及Hi-l的灵敏度不高,分别为35.71%及57.14%,但特异度均较高(87.50%~100.00%);经Fisher精确检验,除H1,5阳性检测的P0.05(P=0.162),其余为P0.05;C1、C2、D1、E、F血清群及H抗原1,6、1,7、g,s,t、g,m的检测结果与血清凝集结果的一致性较高(Kappa值均大于0.75),而H1,5及Hi-l的检测结果与血清凝集结果的一致性很差(Kappa值分别为0.302及0.492);试剂盒对不同O/H抗原核酸检测扩增效率较好,最低检出限为7~137608拷贝/反应。结论:除H1,5抗原外,该荧光PCR检测试剂盒对沙门菌O/H抗原不同血清型的检测效果较好,优于传统血清凝集方法,可显著提高血清型鉴定时效,有利于疾病或暴发的早期发现。     

基于EMA-qPCR的茄科青枯菌活体检测技术的建立

【目的】利用特异性核酸染料叠氮溴乙锭(Ethidium monoazide bromide, EMA)与实时荧光定量PCR技术相结合, 建立一种能有效区分青枯菌死活细胞的检测方法。【方法】样品DNA制备前经EMA渗透预处理, 再进行实时荧光定量PCR特异扩增菌体DNA。【结果】终浓度为2.0 mg/L的EMA能有效排除1.0×107 CFU/mL灭活青枯菌细胞DNA的扩增, 对活细胞和不可培养状态(Viable but non-culturable, VBNC)活菌的DNA扩增均没有影响。当每个定量PCR反应体系中的活细胞在5.0×100?5.0×104 CFU范围内时, 扩增Ct值与定量PCR反应体系中活细胞CFU对数值呈良好的负相关性(R2=0.992 5)。比较EMA-qPCR法和平板计数法对经过不同温度短期保存的青枯菌检测结果发现, 待检样品可在24 °C与4 °C冷藏条件下短期保存。【结论】本研究建立的EMA-qPCR方法能有效检测青枯菌VBNC细胞和有效区分死活菌, 避免或减少青枯菌PCR检测的假阳性和假阴性。     

禽大肠杆菌、肠炎、鼠伤寒、鸡白痢及鸡伤寒沙门菌多重PCR方法的建立及应用

【背景】大肠杆菌病和沙门菌病是最常见的家禽细菌性疾病,给养禽业造成严重经济损失。另外,禽大肠杆菌和沙门菌也是重要的人畜共患病原菌,可通过禽类及其产品传播给人类,对人类健康造成严重威胁。加强禽大肠杆菌和沙门菌的快速鉴别检测,对养禽业和公共卫生都具有重要意义。【目的】建立禽大肠杆菌、肠炎沙门菌、鼠伤寒沙门菌、鸡白痢沙门菌和鸡伤寒沙门菌的多重PCR检测方法。【方法】通过比较分析确定禽致病性大肠杆菌、肠炎沙门菌、鼠伤寒沙门菌、鸡白痢沙门菌和鸡伤寒沙门菌的特异靶标基因,设计5对特异性引物,通过条件优化建立多重PCR方法,分析该多重PCR方法的特异性、敏感性及可靠性。【结果】该方法能特异性地鉴定禽致病性大肠杆菌、肠炎沙门菌、鼠伤寒沙门菌、鸡白痢沙门菌和鸡伤寒沙门菌,每个PCR反应的最低检出限分别为103 CFU细菌和100 pg基因组DNA。临床分离菌株检测显示,多重PCR与传统血清学方法结果一致。【结论】建立的多重PCR方法能够快速鉴别禽致病性大肠杆菌和不同血清型沙门菌,对禽大肠杆菌病和沙门菌病的流行病学调查及临床检测具有重要意义。     

A real-time PCR for the detection of Salmonella Enteritidis in poultry meat and consumption eggs

A robust duplex 5' nuclease (TaqMan) real-time PCR was developed and in-house validated for the specific detection of Salmonella enterica subspecies enterica serovar Enteritidis in whole chicken carcass rinses and consumption eggs. The assay uses specifically designed primers and a TaqMan probe to target the Prot6e gene located on the S. Enteritidis specific 60-kb virulence plasmid. As an internal amplification control to monitor Salmonella DNA in the sample, a second primer/TaqMan probe set detects simultaneously the Salmonella specific invA gene. The assay identified correctly 95% of the 79 Salmonella Enteritidis strains tested comprising 19 different phage types. None of the 119 non-Enteritidis strains comprising 54 serovars was positive for the Prot6e gene. The assay detection probability was for 10(2) or more genome equivalents 100% and for 10 equivalents 83%. A pre-PCR sample preparation protocol including a pre-enrichment step in buffered peptone water, followed by DNA extraction was applied on low levels of artificially contaminated whole chicken carcass rinses and eggs from hens as well as 25 potentially naturally contaminated chickens. The detection limit was less than three CFU per 50 ml carcass rinse or 10 ml egg. The sensitivity and specificity compared to the traditional culture-based detection method and serotyping were both 100%. Twenty-five potentially naturally contaminated chickens were compared by the real-time PCR and the traditional cultural isolation method resulting in four Salmonella positive samples of which two were positive for the Prot6e gene and serotyped as S. Enteritidis. We show also that Salmonella isolates which have a rough lipopolysaccharide structure could be assigned to the serovar Enteritidis by the real-time PCR. This methodology can contribute to meet the need of fast identification and detection methods for use in monitoring and control measures programmes.     

Comparison of the VIDAS system, FTA filter-based PCR and culture on SM ID for detecting Salmonella in Dermanyssus gallinae

AIMS: To compare different analytical methods for detecting Salmonella in Dermanyssus gallinae. METHODS AND RESULTS: The detection limit of three Salmonella detection methods [Vitek immunodiagnostic assay (VIDAS) Salmonella immuno-concentration/immunoassay, FTA filter-based PCR, and Salmonella detection and identification medium (SM ID) preceded by a pre-enrichment step] was evaluated by crushing mites in serial dilutions of pure cultures of Salmonella enterica ssp. Enterica serotype Enteritidis. Each method was then compared for its ability to detect Salmonella in artificially contaminated mites. In 105 mites artificially engorged with Salm. Enteritidis-contaminated blood, Salmonella was isolated from 68 samples of the samples cultured on SM ID and tests were positive for Salmonella using FTA filter-based PCR and VIDAS in 77 and 65 samples, respectively. Using SM ID as our reference method, specificities and sensitivities were 97% and 94% and 73% and 98.5% for VIDAS and PCR, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Each method allowed the detection of Salmonella in contaminated mites and is usable for screening mites. PCR is more sensitive but less specific than VIDAS for detecting Salmonella. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: This is the first time that the VIDAS has been used to detect pathogens in vectors. The development of analytical methods for Salmonella detection in mites is a necessary step in the study of the role of D. gallinae as a vector of salmonellae and to check the contamination of D. gallinae in poultry facilities.     

Diagnostic real-time PCR for detection of Salmonella in food

A robust 5' nuclease (TaqMan) real-time PCR was developed and validated in-house for the specific detection of Salmonella in food. The assay used specifically designed primers and a probe target within the ttrRSBCA locus, which is located near the Salmonella pathogenicity island 2 at centisome 30.5. It is required for tetrathionate respiration in Salmonella. The assay correctly identified all 110 Salmonella strains and 87 non-Salmonella strains tested. An internal amplification control, which is coamplified with the same primers as the Salmonella DNA, was also included in the assay. The detection probabilities were 70% when a Salmonella cell suspension containing 10(3) CFU/ml was used as a template in the PCR (5 CFU per reaction) and 100% when a suspension of 10(4) CFU/ml was used. A pre-PCR sample preparation protocol including a preenrichment step in buffered peptone water followed by DNA extraction-purification was applied when 110 various food samples (chicken rinses, minced meat, fish, and raw milk) were investigated for Salmonella. The diagnostic accuracy was shown to be 100% compared to the traditional culture method. The overall analysis time of the PCR method was approximately 24 h, in contrast to 4 to 5 days of analysis time for the traditional culture method. This methodology can contribute to meeting the increasing demand of quality assurance laboratories for standard diagnostic methods. Studies are planned to assess the interlaboratory performance of this diagnostic PCR method.     

Direct quantitation and detection of salmonellae in biological samples without enrichment, using two-step filtration and real-time PCR

A new two-step filtration protocol followed by a real-time PCR assay based on SYBR green I detection was developed to directly quantitate salmonellae in two types of biological samples: i.e., chicken rinse and spent irrigation water. Four prefiltration filters, one type of final filter, and six protocols for recovery of salmonellae from the final filter were evaluated to identify an effective filtration protocol. This method was then combined with a real-time PCR assay based on detection of the invA gene. The best results were obtained by subsequent filtration of 100 ml of chicken rinse or 100 ml of spent irrigation water through filters with pore diameters of >40 mum to remove large particles and of 0.22 microm to recover the Salmonella cells. After this, the Salmonella cells were removed from the filter by vortexing in 1 ml of physiological saline, and this sample was then subjected to real-time quantitative PCR. The whole procedure could be completed within 3 h from sampling to quantitation, and cell numbers as low as 7.5 x 10(2) CFU per 100-ml sample could be quantified. Below this limit, qualitative detection of concentrations as low as 2.2 CFU/100 ml sample was possible on occasion. This study has contributed to the development of a simple, rapid, and reliable method for quantitation of salmonellae in food without the need for sample enrichment or DNA extraction.     

Direct and quantitative analysis of Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium using real-time PCR from artificially contaminated chicken meat

For quantitative PCR assay of Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium in food samples, a real-time PCR method was developed, based on DNA genome equivalent. Specific primers and probe designed based on the STM4497 gene of S. Typhimurium LT2 showed the specificity to S. Typhimurium. Threshold cycle (Ct) values of real-time PCR were obtained from a quantitative standard curve with genomic DNA of Salmonella Typhimurium. In addition, the recovery of S. Typhimurium inoculated artificially to chicken samples with 4.5x105 to 4.5x100 CFU/ml was evaluated by using real-time PCR and plate-count methods. Result showed that the number of cells calculated from the real-time PCR method had good correlation with that of the plate-count method. This real-time PCR method could be applicable to the detection and quantification of S. Typhimurium in food samples.     

Rapid detection of Campylobacter coli,C. jejuni,and Salmonella enterica on poultry carcasses by using PCR-enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay

Contamination of retail poultry by Campylobacter spp. and Salmonella enterica is a significant source of human diarrheal disease. Isolation and identification of these microorganisms require a series of biochemical and serological tests. In this study, Campylobacter ceuE and Salmonella invA genes were used to design probes in PCR-enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), as an alternative to conventional bacteriological methodology, for the rapid detection of Campylobacter jejuni, Campylobacter coli, and S. enterica from poultry samples. With PCR-ELISA (40 cycles), the detection limits for Salmonella and Campylobacter were 2 x 10(2) and 4 x 10(1) CFU/ml, respectively. ELISA increased the sensitivity of the conventional PCR method by 100- to 1,000-fold. DNA was extracted from carcass rinses and tetrathionate enrichments and used in PCR-ELISA for the detection of Campylobacter and S. enterica, respectively. With PCR-ELISA, Salmonella was detected in 20 of 120 (17%) chicken carcass rinses examined, without the inclusion of an enrichment step. Significant correlation was observed between PCR-ELISA and cultural methods (kappa = 0.83; chi-square test, P < 0.001) with only one false negative (1.67%) and four false positives (6.67%) when PCR-ELISA was used to screen 60 tetrathionate enrichment cultures for SALMONELLA: With PCR-ELISA, we observed a positive correlation between the ELISA absorbance (optical density at 405 nm) and the campylobacter cell number in carcass rinse, as determined by standard culture methods. Overall, PCR-ELISA is a rapid and cost-effective approach for the detection and enumeration of Salmonella and Campylobacter bacteria on poultry.     

A rapid, sensitive and automated method for detection of Salmonella species in foods using AG-9600 AmpliSensor Analyzer

The AG-9600 AmpliSensor Analyzer is an automated fluorescence-based system for detection of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) products. The principle of the AmpliSensor PCR assay involves amplification-mediated disruption of a fluorogenic DNA signal duplex (AmpliSensor) that is homologous to a target sequence within a 284-bp amplified fragment of the Salmonella invA gene. Since the assay is homogenous, the data can be obtained by direct measurement of fluorescence of the amplification mixture. The accumulation of the amplified product, reflected by the fluorescence index, is monitored cycle by cycle by the AG-9600 Analyzer. The detection limit of the assay was less than 2 colony-forming units (cfu) per PCR reaction using a pure culture of Salmonella typhimurium. In post-spiking experiments in which Salmonella was added to the overnight pre-enriched samples (chicken carcass rinses, ground beef, ground pork and raw milk), the detection limit of the assay was 2–6 cfu per PCR reaction. In pre-spiking experiments in which Salmonella was added to the samples prior to overnight pre-enrichment, the detection limit was less than 3 cfu per 25 g or 25 ml of food. The assay was up to 2 orders of magnitude more sensitive than detection by ethidium bromide-stained agarose gel electrophoresis. To further evaluate assay performance, 54 naturally contaminated chicken carcass rinses, 65 raw milk and six ground pork samples were tested in the study. Thirty-eight Salmonella- positive samples confirmed by the Modified Semi-solid Rappaport-Vassiliadis (MSRV) culture assay were found positive using the AmpliSensor assay. Two chicken carcass rinses found positive using the assay were MSRV-negative. In addition, relative quantification using the AmpliSensor assay was linear up to 3 logs of initial target concentration in artificially contaminated food samples.     

Adding a selective enrichment step to the iQ-Check real-time PCR improves the detection of Salmonella in naturally contaminated retail turkey meat products

AIMS: The aim of this study was to compare the real-time iQ-Check Salmonella kit (Bio-Rad) with the immunocapture assay RapidCheck Salmonella method, and a conventional culture method (FSIS, USDA) in detecting Salmonella in naturally contaminated turkey meat products. This study was also designed to determine if a selective enrichment step might improve the real-time detection of Salmonella. METHODS AND RESULTS: Using the culture method, Salmonella was recovered from 49 out of 99 retail turkey meat samples collected. RapidCheck failed to detect 11 Salmonella samples that were positive by the culture method. The iQ-Check real-time PCR also failed to detect three samples that were positive by the culture method. However, when carried out after a selective enrichment step, the iQ-Check real-time PCR detected all 49 Salmonella samples recovered by the culture method. The iQ-Check real-time PCR detected the presence of Salmonella in some samples that were not recovered by the culture method. CONCLUSIONS: Adding a selective enrichment step to the iQ-Check real-time PCR improves the detection of Salmonella in naturally contaminated turkey meat samples. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: The iQ-Check Salmonella real-time PCR can be used as a rapid method to monitor Salmonella in turkey meat, together with conventional culture methodology.     

Real-time PCR for the detection of Salmonella spp. in food: An alternative approach to a conventional PCR system suggested by the FOOD-PCR project

A real-time PCR assay using non-patented primers and a TaqMan probe for the detection and quantification of Salmonella spp. is presented. The assay is based on an internationally validated conventional PCR system, which was suggested as a standard method for the detection of Salmonella spp. in the FOOD-PCR project. The assay was sensitive and specific. Consistent detection of 9.5 genome equivalents per PCR reaction was achieved, whereas samples containing an average of 0.95 genome equivalents per reaction were inconsistently positive. The assay performed equally well as a commercially available real-time PCR assay and allowed sensitive detection of Salmonella spp. in artificially contaminated food. After enrichment for 16 h in buffered peptone water (BPW) or universal pre-enrichment broth (UPB) 2.5 CFU/25 g salmon and minced meat, and 5 CFU/25 g chicken meat and 25 ml raw milk were detected. Enrichment in BPW yielded higher numbers of CFU/ml than UPB for all matrices tested. However, the productivity of UPB was sufficient, as all samples were positive with both real-time PCR methods, including those containing less than 300 CFU/ml enrichment broth (enrichment of 5 CFU/25 ml raw milk in UPB).     

Application of real-time PCR for quantitative detection of Campylobacter jejuni in poultry, milk and environmental water

Campylobacter jejuni is a leading human food-borne pathogen. The rapid and sensitive detection of C. jejuni is necessary for the maintenance of a safe food/water supply. In this article, we present a real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay for quantitative detection of C. jejuni in naturally contaminated poultry, milk and environmental samples without an enrichment step. The whole assay can be completed in 60 min with a detection limit of approximately 1 CFU. The standard curve correlation coefficient for the threshold cycle versus the copy number of initial C. jejuni cells was 0.988. To test the PCR system, a set of 300 frozen chicken meat samples, 300 milk samples and 300 water samples were screened for the presence of C. jejuni. 30.6% (92/300) of chicken meat samples, 27.3% (82/300) of milk samples, and 13.6% (41/300) of water samples tested positive for C. jejuni. This result indicated that the real-time PCR assay provides a specific, sensitive and rapid method for quantitative detection of C. jejuni. Moreover, it is concluded that retail chicken meat, raw milk and environmental water are commonly contaminated with C. jejuni and could serve as a potential risk for consumers in eastern China, especially if proper hygienic and cooking conditions are not maintained.