author(s)
Mahantesh Meti, Govind V, Sundaresan G, Appa Rao V and Narendra Babu R

abstract
A study was undertaken to screen chicken meat samples collected in retail outlets of Chennai city for the prevalence of Listeria monocytogenes. Microbiological tests for preliminary screening along with simplex PCR technique by using specific primer was performed to detect L. monocytogenes in the samples. The samples were collected from different corporation regions of Chennai and were tested for the presence of L. monocytogenes by targeting prfA gene with 290bp length by simplex PCR. Listeria spp. was isolated from 15 (25%) out of 60 samples. 14 isolates of Listeria spp. were identified as L. monocytogenes through developed PCR technique. This PCR technique has demonstrated to be a rapid, sensitive, reliable and appropriate method for the routine analysis of L. monocytogenes. From this study it can be concluded that it is imperative to control the contamination of poultry meat by every means following hygienic practices during processing, storing and transport of chicken meat.