The study was aiming for detection of two foodborne pathogens in meat by duplex PCR assay. A total
of 210 samples of frozen, minced meat and burger were collected from different shops at Dakahleyah
Governorate, Egypt for bacteriological examination and duplex PCR assay. Results of Culture based
method revealed that, 29 (13.8%) isolates were recovered from 210 samples represented as 10 positive
samples (14.3%) from frozen meat, where 7 were single and 3 were mixed contaminations, meanwhile,
6 (8.6%) from minced meat samples where 2 were single and 4 were mixed contaminations and 13
positive samples (18.6%) from burger, where 10 were single and 3 were mixed contaminations. E. coli
were the most isolated (18= 8.6%) followed by S. aureus (11=5.2%). Duplex PCR assay results revealed
that six positive samples by culture method of mixed infection for S. aureus and E. coli were positive for
phoA and clfA genes respectively in all six samples while results of four positive samples for S. aureus
by culture method, were positive for clfA gene by PCR. On the other hand, results of four positive
samples for E. coli by culture method were positive for phoA gene when reexamined by duplex PCR,
which showed negative results for both genes in another four samples that were negative by culture
method. The recorded results revealed that duplex PCR approach allows the accurate, rapid, sensitive
and automated detection of some foodborne pathogens for routine analysis at a reasonable cost and
short period.