Development of Recombinase Polymerase Amplification Assay for the Rapid Detection of Salmonella Serovars from Food Samples

Salmonella poses a significant threat to public health due to its role in causing severe foodborne illnesses. Traditional identification methods involving bacterial cultivation and biochemical techniques are time-consuming and expensive. As a result, there is an urgent need for a rapid and efficient means of Salmonella detection, particularly for on-site applications. Recombinase polymerase amplification (RPA) method has emerged as one such promising tool for rapid pathogen detection. Unlike conventional Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR), RPA can be conducted at near-ambient temperatures and has improved amplification efficiency. In the current study, a specific and sensitive approach for identifying Salmonella enterica was developed using RPA. This approach not only achieved a lower limit of detection, as low as 55 femtograms of DNA but also operated at a lower reaction temperature compared to traditional PCR. Most notably, the amplification could be completed in just 20 min, making it significantly faster without compromising sensitivity or specificity. These results demonstrate the utility of RPA for assessing food samples and detecting Salmonella contamination, offering a promising solution to enhance food safety and public health.