Molecular Detection of Seafood-Borne Human Pathogenic Bacteria

Human bacterial infections and intoxication of seafood origin are usually derived from the consumption of raw or undercooked fi sh or shellfi sh harboring infectious organisms of mammalian intestinal origin (sewage outfalls) or from infectious organisms native to estuarine environments. Although conventional bacteriological methodology is still widely used to detect and enumerate these seafood pathogens molecular techniques involving the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) are now available allowing for rapid detection with notably high levels of sensitivity.