Evaluation of Sensitivity and Cost-Effectiveness of Molecular Methods for the Co-detection of Waterborne Pathogens in India

In this study, we designed multiplex PCR and quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) assays for the co-detection and enumeration of waterborne pathogens such as Aeromonas hydrophila, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella enterica, Yersinia enterocolitica, Escherichia coli, Vibrio cholerae, and Shigella spp. Specific primers were selected against the virulence and species-specific genes of the seven target pathogens. For all seven target organisms, the detection limits for conventional culture methods were in the range of 103-104 cells/ml. While employing multiplex PCR method in this study, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Shigella spp. have a detection sensitivity of 101 cells/ml, Vibrio cholerae and Aeromonas hydrophila have a detection sensitivity of 102 cells/ml, whereas Salmonella enterica, E. coli, and Yersinia enterocolitica have a detection sensitivity of only 103 cells/ml. According to our cost-benefit analysis, these molecular technologies are less expensive, with unit analysis costs of ₹52 and ₹173 for qPCR and multiplex PCR, respectively. Furthermore, all of the target genes had a detection limit of 1 cell/ml in qPCR. Because of their speed, sensitivity, specificity, and cost-effectiveness, these multiplex and qPCR assays could be employed for successful co-detection of aquatic pathogens.PMID:34714447 | DOI:10.1007/s10126-021-10078-9
Source: Marine Biotechnology - Category: Biotechnology Authors: Source Type: research