Evaluation of Molecular Methods for Detection of Foodborne Pathogens in Processed Meat Products in Ibadan Abattoirs

Processed meat products derived from cattle and small ruminants slaughtered at urban abattoirs represent a significant source of foodborne pathogen exposure for Nigerian consumers. Molecular detection methods offer enhanced sensitivity and specificity over conventional culture-based approaches for identifying contaminating bacteria. This study evaluated the performance of multiplex PCR and real-time PCR for detecting key foodborne pathogens in processed meat samples from Bodija and Apata abattoirs in Ibadan, Oyo State, Southwest Nigeria. Ninety samples of minced beef, suya, and roasted meat were collected. DNA was extracted using a commercial bead-beating kit. Multiplex PCR targeted Salmonella (invA), E. coli O157:H7 (stx1, stx2), Listeria monocytogenes (hly), and Staphylococcus aureus (nuc) in a single reaction. Real-time PCR with specific TaqMan probes was used for quantitative detection. Multiplex PCR detected at least one pathogen in 63% of samples, with Salmonella spp. the most frequent contaminant (41%). Real-time PCR showed higher analytical sensitivity, detecting an additional 14% of positive samples missed by conventional multiplex PCR. Stx1/stx2-positive E. coli was identified in 12% of suya samples. These evaluation data provide evidence for adopting molecular platforms as the standard approach in Nigerian abattoir food safety monitoring programs. Keywords: multiplex PCR, foodborne pathogens, processed meat, abattoir, Ibadan.