Bacteriological Identification of Salmonella In Street Vended Food Panipuri In Bhopal Awadhpuri Region

Abstract

Street-vendor food, such as Panipuri, is popular among people but is often prepared and sold under unhygienic conditions, making it susceptible to microbial contamination. In this study, ten samples from various zones of the Awadhpuri area in Bhopal were collected aseptically and analyzed within one hour of procurement. Standard procedures were followed for isolation, enumeration, and identification of bacteria. The bacteria were initially isolated on NAM plates, and DNA extraction was carried out using the phenol-chloroform method. Pathogenic bacteria such as Escherichia coli (40%), Salmonella typhi (30%), and Salmonella paratyphi A (20%) were detected in the samples.

Additionally, Escherichia coli (40%) and Salmonella typhi (20%) were isolated in the potato masala. The bacteriological analysis of Panipuri sold in Bhopal city highlights significant hazards to human health. The assay was validated using positive controls and compared to conventional culture-based methods to establish its accuracy and sensitivity. The PCR and qPCR methods targeted the conserved regions of Salmonella’s ST gene to identify and quantify the pathogen in the samples. The qPCR emerged as a rapid and reliable method for Salmonella detection in food samples, providing crucial insights for food safety authorities to implement targeted interventions and minimize the risk of foodborne illnesses.