Foodborne pathogens Food poisoning is caused by pathogenic bacteria or by bacterial toxins in food. The most common bacteria associated with food poisoning include Salmonella, Campylobacter, E. coli O157, Listeria monocytogenes, Staphylococcus aureus and Clostridium botulinum. Traditional methods for the detection of pathogenic bacteria from foods rely on culturing the bacteria onto agar plates. These traditional culturing methods are laborious and time-consuming, taking three days or more to detect specific pathogens. Recent advances in technology make detection and identification faster, safer and more convenient than traditional assays. These new methods are often referred to as "rapid methods", a term used loosely to describe any test method used to speed up analysis. Some of these tests, including Diffchamb's pathogen detection kits, have also been automated to further reduce hands-on involvement. Diffchamb's pathogen detection kits feature the following advantages: Proven and documented sensitivity & specificity ELISA microplate with divisible strips Both manual and automated protocols Ready-to-use reagents Long shelf life Rapid (2 hours) Reliable and safe		Foodborne pathogens Campylobacter E.coli 0157 E. coli Verotoxins Listeria Listeria monocytogenes Salmonella Staphyloccocal enterotoxins Food & Beverage Process Control Manual ChemWell Automated

Campylobacter             Return to Top of Foodborne Pathogens  

Campylobacter is a common cause of acute bacterial diarrhea in humans and may be responsible for more cases of food-borne illness than any other pathogen. Poultry, unpasteurised milk and water are the major vehicles in the transmission of Campylobacter.

The detection of Campylobacter in food is often a challenge. Isolating the organism from highly-contaminated samples is difficult and detection can require different media, where the performance varies depending on the food type. Campylobacter also require microaerobic conditions. As they grow slowly it can take up to a week to obtain a final test result.

The Transia Plate Campylobacter method uses only one broth, in a two-step protocol, followed by a rapid immunoassay. It is easy to perform and has proved to be highly-effective and reliable. The Transia ELISA technology, with ready-to-use reagents and a microtiterplate with divisible strips, makes the kit ideal for both single tests and high-throughput automation.
 

	Art. No: CA 0100 Units: 1 Format: Microplate
Product: ¤Transia Plate Campylobacter Description: Campylobacter is a common cause of acute bacterial diarrhoea in humans and may be responsible for more cases of foodborne illness than any other pathogen. Poultry, unpasteurised milk and water are the major vehicles in the transmission of Campylobacter. The Transia Plate Campylobacter method uses only one broth, in a two-step protocol, followed by a rapid immunoassay. It is easy to perform and has proven to be highly effective and reliable. The Transia ELISA technology, with ready-to-use reagents and a microtiterplate with divisible strips, makes the kit ideal for both single tests and high-throughput automation. Features:   Sensitive as the reference method Minimal risk of false positives Easy, robust assay procedure Requires only one broth for all food matrices Only the second step in microaerobic conditions Total method time of 46 hours

E. coli O157                     Return to Top of Foodborne Pathogens

Cases of foodborne illness associated with pathogenic Escherichia coli have increased dramatically since 1982. The serotype E.coli O157:H7 is currently the most prominent foodborne agent associated with enterohaemorragic Escherichia coli (EHEC) infections.

The accurate assessment of E. coli O157 has proved to be cumbersome when using traditional culture methods. In contrast, Diffchamb's Transia Plate E. coli O157 and Transia Card E. coli O157 tests have been designed for simplicity and meet the highest demands for sensitivity and specificity. The need for confirmation tests is limited due to the high specificity of this ELISA technology compared with culture methods.

Certain species of E. coli are known to produce two cytotoxins, verotoxin 1 and 2. These verotoxin-producing E. coli (VTEC) cause significant foodborne illness, which can be fatal. Diffchamb can now provide you Transia Plate Verotoxins - a new, rapid and accurate screening method.
 

	Art. No: EC 0196 Units: 1 Format: Microplate
Product: ¤Transia Plate E. coli O157 Description: The verocytotoxin producing serotypes (VTEC) of the Escherichia genus are well known causes of diarrhoea in humans. The serotype O157 is currently the most prominent foodborne agent connected to enterohaemorragic Escherichia coli (EHEC) infections. Transia Plate E. coli O157 is intended for the detection of E. coli O157 in food, water and environmental samples. Features:   Reliable results 20-hour enrichment protocol recommended Detects down to 1 cfu per 25 g of sample Easy to use -ready-to-use reagents Flexible -can be used for small and large series Safe - performed on heat-treated samples   E. coli Verotoxins                      Return to Top of Foodborne Pathogens

		Art. No: VT 0102 Units: 1 Format: Microplate
	Product: ¤Transia Plate Verotoxins Description: Verotoxin-producing E.Coli (VTEC) causes significant foodborne illness, which can be fatal. As an alternative to current long and tedious methods, Diffchamb can provide you with this rapid screening method. Transia Plate Verotoxins is intended for detection of verotoxins, and corresponding verotoxin-producing E.coli (VTEC) in food. Features:   Only one enrichment step in less than 24 hours Specific to verotoxin 1 and 2 Low limit of detection – 1-10 cells/25 g No cross-reactions with other bacterial genera or other toxins Ready-to-use reagents Single and multiple testing

Listeria                                   Return to Top of Foodborne Pathogens

Listeria is widely present in nature and has been reported in rotting vegetation, soil, animal faeces and water. The presence of Listeria in food is an indication of insufficient hygiene in the handling of raw materials and finished products.

Among the six species of the Listeria genus, Listeria monocytogenes is the main pathogenic species in humans. Food contaminated by this organism may cause miscarriages, meningitis and septicaemia.

Conventional enrichment and isolation methods for detecting Listeria in food are generally reliable. However, they are expensive, laborious and slow, requiring at least 3-7 days for a presumptive identification. A detection method with similar or better performance, but which reduces the time and cost requirements, would thus be of considerable value to the food industry. The conventional ISO method and other official methods used nationally involve a number of steps and require 3 to 7 days to obtain a definitive identification.
 

	Art. No: LI 0685 Units: 10 Format: Microplate
Product: ¤Transia Plate Listeria Description: Listeria is widely present in nature and has been reported in rotting vegetation, soils, animal faeces and water. The Listeria bacteria will grow in temperatures as low as one degree Celsius. Transia Plate Listeria is intended for the detection of Listeria spp. in dairy, meat, seafood, vegetables and environmental samples. Features:   Ready-to-use reagents Long shelflife High-specific antibodies Flexible format with divisible strips Simple 3-step ELISA

Listeria monocytogenes                            Return to Top of Foodborne Pathogens

Listeria is widely present in nature and has been isolated from rotting vegetation, soils, faeces and water. The bacteria grows over a wide range of temperatures, 3° - 45° C, with an optimum range of 30°C - 37° C.

There are six species of the Listeria genus: L.monocytogenes, L.ivanovii, L.innocua, L.welshimeri, L.seeligeri and L.grayi. However, only L.monocytogenes is a human pathogen. Its ingestion through the consumption of contaminated food may cause the disease listeriosis, which is of great concern to specific at-risk groups, including the elderly, pregnant women and individuals with weakened immune defence.

Listeria monocytogenes is recognised as an important human pathogen, which may cause miscarriage, septicaemia, meningitis and death. To prevent listeriosis, many countries have imposed strict tolerance levels for Listeria monocytogenes in food products.

	Art. No: LI 0610 Units: 10 Format: Microplate
Product: ¤Transia Plate L.monocytogenes Description: Listeria monocytogenes is recognised as an important foodborne pathogen that may cause miscarriage, septicaemia, meningitis and death. Transia Plate Listeria monocytogenes is intended for the detection of Listeria monocytogenes in dairy and meat products, seafood and vegetables. Features:   No cross-reactions with other Listeria species As sensitive as the ISO method Easy robust assay procedure Ready-to-use reagents Long shelf-life Single and multiple testing

Salmonella                                 Return to Top of Foodborne Pathogens

Salmonella is the most important pathogen responsible for food poisoning worldwide. Because of its low infective dose, many countries require the total absence of Salmonella in food products.

Although most people survive a Salmonella infection, it can be life-threatening for infants and elderly persons as well as persons already weakened by other serious diseases.

Salmonella detection the traditional way
The standard principle used to detect Salmonella in foods for the past 40 years has been based on simple culture enrichment techniques and plating procedures. However, despite their historic usefulness they are very laborious and slow, with test results taking four to seven days to confirm.

Diffchamb’s rapid Transia Salmonella tests, which are described in our Salmonella handbook, are based on more than ten years’ experience in frontline immunotechnology and applied food diagnostics.

 

		Art. No: SA 0190 Units: 10 Format: Microplate
	Product: ¤Transia Plate Salmonella Gold Description: Salmonella is the most important pathogen responsible for food poisoning worldwide. Because of its low infective dose, many countries require the total absence of Salmonella in food products. Transia Plate Salmonella Gold is intended for detection of Salmonella spp. in food and feed. Features:   Short flexible enrichment procedure No M-broth required No second selective enrichment broth Maximized sensitivity through LPS detection No cross-reactions with other enterobacteria Ready-to-use reagents Single and multiple testing

Staphylococcal enterotoxins                         Return to Top of Foodborne Pathogens Staphylococcal food poisoning is caused by the enterotoxins produced by certain strains of S. aureus. These bacteria can be easily destroyed by heat treatment. However, staphylococcal enterotoxins (SET) have almost total resistance to dehydration, proteolytic enzymes and heat treatment. The traditional methods used to detect SET are costly and lack the level of sensitivity required for industrial use. Rapid detection of staphylococcal enterotoxins in food Transia Plate and Transia Tube Staphylococcal Enterotoxins are two, state-of-the art "sandwich" ELISA test kits designed for the rapid detection of staphylococcal enterotoxins (SET) in food and bacterial cultures. Both tests employ monoclonal antibodies that react specifically with foodborne SET A, B, C, D and E. Compared with the microslide double diffusion reference method (Casman et al, 1969), which is laborious, slow and inadequate in detecting low levels of contamination, the Transia SET kits are simple, rapid and highly sensitive. The detection limit of the Transia method is less than one nanogram of SET per gram or ml food and results are available within three hours (sample preparation + ELISA). The kit’s ready-to-use reagents, which can be stored for at least ten months, ensure flexible, swift, economical use. Diffchamb can now provide you with two additional innovative tools for a complete analysis: Transia IAC Staphylococcal Enteroxins - these immunoaffinity columns are aimed at the purification/concentration of the five different serological groups (A-E) from food samples prior to detection with both Transia Plate and Transia Tube Staphylococcal Enteroxins. Transia ID Staphylococcal Enteroxins is aimed for the detection and differentiation of the five different SEs (A-E) in food samples and in cultural supernatants.   Art. No: ST 0796 Units: 1 Format: Microplate   Product: ¤Transia Plate Staphylococcal Enterotoxins Description: Staphylococcal food poisoning results from the ingestion of toxins produced mainly by toxigenic strains of Staphylococcus aureus. These bacteria can be easily destroyed by heat treatment. However, Staphylococcal enterotoxins have almost total resistance to dehydration, proteolytic enzymes and heat treatment. Transia Plate Staphylococcal Enterotoxins is intended for the detection of staphylococcal enterotoxins A, B, C, D and E in food samples and in cultural supernatants. Features:   Sensitive - detects down to 0.25 ng of enterotoxin/gram Specific - detects Staphylococcal enterotoxin A, B, C1, C2, C3, D and E. Ready-to-use reagents Long shelf life Flexible format with divisible strips