We have developed two types of new paddle-style dipstick dye immunoassays. The first is genus Listeria specific and the second is specific to Listeria monocytogenes. They are based respectively, on antisera raised against heat-killed L. monocytogenes cells and against internalin B crude extract, a virulence protein found only in the pathogenic L. monocytogenes. The minimum detectable level for L. monocytogenes is 2x10(7) CFU ml(-1) for strain number 88/049 in pure culture. Detection is unaffected by the presence of high numbers (approximately log 8.0 CFU/ml) of the other microorganisms tested. When the dipsticks were applied to milk samples inoculated with L. monocytogenes reference material (ALM92), there was a strong response to the enrichment cultures. The new assay may prove useful in detection of L. monocytogenes in enrichment cultures of milk and ice cream food samples
