Usefulness of ELISA kit for Detecting Listeria spp. in Raw Meat Using Five Enrichment Procedures

Abstract

A commercial ELISA kit was evaluated for its usefulness in detecting Listeria spp. organisms in meat samples as compared with the conventional enrichment culture procedure. The detection rate by the conventional method and that by the ELISA were 42.7%(34/72) and 48.6%(35/72), respectively, and correlation ratio between the two results was 95.8%(69/72). By the ELISA method, three L. monocytogenes cells were detectable from a 10g meat sample in the inoculation and recovery test. Incubation at 30°C and the use of secondary enrichment culture were required, while the use of UVM enrichment broth was not always necessary. The ELISA method was considered to be useful for the screening of raw meat for Listeria spp. organisms.