The Leading integrated agribusiness and food processing group of companies, Betagro Group, long committed to continuous research and development in food safety, has achieved a major breakthrough in a molecular-biological useful method of categorizing Salmonella, a strain of bacteria that can cause food poisoning, typhoid, and paratyphoid fever in humans and other infectious diseases in domestic animals.

At the Group’s Science Center, a team of researchers has done much to advance the technique for distinguishing Salmonella species of high molecular similarity. This makes detecting infectious diseases in food products increasingly practical, and makes disposing of these pathogenic bacteria more effective. As a result of the exemplary work by the scientists a higher standard for food safety has been successfully set and truly implemented.

Dr. Rutjawate Taharnklaew, Director–Research and Development, Betagro Group, said, “The recent achievement of Betagro Science Center is that it has successfully categorized and identified two serotypes of Salmonella including S. Enteritidis and S. Typhimurium by using the methods Multiple–locus variable–number tandem–repeat analysis (MLVA) in conjunction with Capillary Electrophoresis (CE). It is the first for these dual approaches in bacterial serotyping to have been successfully implemented in Thailand.”

“The research project has brought to our capability an increased efficiency of bacterial detection in Salmonella-carrying foods – deep into its strains – to improve the way we effectively manage possible contagion. The project initially focused on the two serotypes, Salmonella Enteritidis and Salmonella Typhimurium, both strikingly similar, and both health-threatening pathogens causing serious infections worldwide each year.”

“Since measures to tackle Salmonella contamination within the manufacturing chain have been effective in many countries, food manufacturers have to adapt themselves to the new regulation by setting up action plans and protective approaches against the contamination,” added Rutjawate.

“Insightful epidemiological information about the contagious Salmonella is essential for situational analysis and disease projection planning as well as controlling the spread and contamination. However, conventional methods are not so effective at distinguishing closely similar Salmonella strains, and most importantly they are time and labour consuming.”

The more effective dual methods, Multiple–locus variable–number tandem–repeat analysis (MLVA) and Capillary Electrophoresis (CE), provide greater precision, accuracy and speed in distinguishing the bacteria’s type and strain at the deep molecular level. In addition, it is possible to identify the origin and relationship between Salmonella serotypes of the same strain, which are found in the lab test. This allows for more effective control of the spread and contamination of these two Salmonella serotypes in the food manufacturing process.

“The research result has provided Betagro with useful database about Salmonella Enteritidis and Salmonella Typhimurium for more preventive planning for the entire chicken supply chain, from breeders farming, hatchery and feed production to slaughter houses and processing facilities, so that the origin of any contagious diseases can be fully traceable. It can also be used as an efficiency indicator for production management, hygiene and other aspect of operations.”

The next step, according to Rutjawate, involves finding possible applications of other faster and more cost-effective molecular biological methods to replace the existing Capillary Electrophoresis (CE). The effort is expected to help reduce costs of disease analysis a benefit of great importance for manufacturers faced with the need to undertake large numbers of analyses.

The team working on the “Study and Classification of Salmonella Enteritidis and Salmonella Typhimurium by using Multiple–locus variable–number tandem–repeats analysis (MLVA) in association with Capillary Electrophoresis (CE)” consists of four researchers from Betagro Science Center headed by Dr Mongkol Vesaratchavest, Senior Researcher and Deputy Director of Betagro’s Research and Development Center. The project took six months, starting from December 2008 to May 2009, and cost about 300,000 baht.

About Betagro Science Center
Betagro Science Center offers world-class biological, chemical, pathological and immunological diagnosis and testing services to benefit the quality assurance of feeds and meat products as well as animal health monitoring. The Center has reliable capabilities to serve Betagro subsidiaries as well as government and private organisations. Its headquarters is located within Thailand Science Park, Pathumthani province.

For more information, please visit the website at www.betagro.com.

 

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