Supplier: Merck

Listeria monocytogenes is one of the most widely distributed foodborne pathogens in the world and is responsible for severe infections in immunocompromised persons, pregnant women and neonates. As a result, the mortality rate in infected individuals is high despite the relatively low number of cases around the world. Listeria infections (listeriosis) can result in anything from mild gastroenteritis to severe cases of sepsis, meningitis, encephalitis or abortion. Due to the ubiquitous distribution of Listeria and their capability to grow at refrigeration temperatures ( 2 to 8 °C), food products constitute one of the main sources of infection. Listeria is a genus of Gram-positive, non-sporeforming, rod-shaped bacteria. Of the six known species of the genus Listeria, Listeria monocytogenes deserves particular mention as a human and animal pathogen; L. ivanovii is only pathogenic in animals, while L. innocua, L. seeligeri, L. grayi, and L. welshimeri are considered harmless environmental bacteria. Consequently, food legislation in many countries specifies strict limits for Listeria spp. or Listeria monocytogenes. In the conduct of risk-related quality controls in food, tests should be run for L. monocytogenes, and for the Listeria Genus in general. The presence of Listeria – in particular of L. innocua – is an indicator for critical hygienic conditions in the production process. Innovative, rapid tests make screening for pathogenic organisms easier. The one-step format reduces the possibility of errors during handling.

Supplier: Merck

EHEC is capable of inducing life threatening illnesses, particularly in people with immune deficiency, young children and the elderly. Although the most common cause of EHEC is E. coli O157, other serotypes, such as O26, O45, O103, O111, O121 and O145, are also relatively frequent causes of infection. Typical symptoms are severe abdominal pain and diarrhoea, which is initially watery but often becomes bloody. E. coli are gram-negative, non sporulating, facultative anaerobic bacilli. Amongst the pathogenic E. coli, Verotoxin-forming strains (STEC or VTEC) have gained importance in recent years. The group of enterohaemorrhagic E. coli (EHEC) with its highly pathogenic serovar O157:H7 strain is particularly interesting in this respect. The main sources of infection are contaminated, raw or insufficiently heated foods of animal origin, such as meat and dairy products. The reservoir for EHEC is the gut of ruminants. Microorganisms can enter food during the processing of meat and dairy products if hygienic conditions are inadequate. The drastic increase in the incidence of food contamination caused by E. coli O157 demands reliable and rapid methods of detection. Innovative, rapid tests make screening for pathogenic organisms easier. Complete test sets for the detection of pathogens and toxins. The one-step format reduces the possibility of errors during handling. In addition to tests for the most common cause of infection, E. coli O157, there exits a 24-H screening protocol for VTEC, including E. coli O104:H4, based on Rapidcult™ E. coli enrichment combined with detection using Duopath® Verotoxins.

Supplier: Merck

Most individuals infected with Salmonella develop diarrhea, fever, and abdominal cramps 12 to 72 H after infection. The illness usually lasts 4 to 7 days, and the majority of patients recover without treatment. However, in some cases, the diarrhea may be so severe that hospitalisation is required. Salmonella is a genus of rod-shaped, Gram-negative, non spore-forming, predominantly motile bacteria, belonging to the Enterobacteriaceae family. Salmonella spp. are one of the most common causes of food poisoning worldwide and have been isolated from most types of raw food (e.g. meats, eggs and plant products). Their high resistance to drying combined with a very high heat resistance once dried makes Salmonella a potential problem in most foods, particularly in dry and semi-dry products. Food legislation in many countries includes limits on Salmonella – typically absence in 25 g of food. Traditional microbiological methods for detection of Salmonella in food and animal feed require a total of up to five days to obtain a simple yes/no result. Innovative, rapid tests make screening for pathogenic organisms easier. The one-step format reduces the possibility of errors during handling.

Supplier: DIMANCO

Dipslide test for sulphate-reducing bacteria.