One-Step PCR Detection of Salmonella Pullorum/Gallinarum Using a Novel Target: The Flagellar Biosynthesis Gene flhB

serovar Pullorum/Gallinarum is an important infectious pathogen that has caused widespread problems for chicken industry. Traditional serotyping is an expensive and time-consuming process. In this study, we developed a rapid one-step polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method to identify Pullorum/Gallinarum. The PCR-based assay focuses on , which shows a deficient region only in Pullorum/Gallinarum, compared with that of other serovars. The specificity and sensitivity of the PCR system were evaluated. The developed PCR method could identify Pullorum/Gallinarum from 27 different serovars and eight non- pathogens. The minimum limit of DNA and the lowest number of cells of Pullorum for the PCR detection were no less than 5.85 pg/μL and 10 CFU, respectively. The method was applied to the analysis of strains isolated from the chicken farm. The PCR-based testing results of the farm isolates were in concordance with those obtained using traditional serotyping method. This newly developed PCR-based system could be used to accurately screen for the presence of Pullorum/Gallinarum, and support traditional serotyping methods, especially in high-throughput screening situations.