Table 1.

Quantitative detection of C. botulinum in slug carcasses by qPCR

Day	N positive	Mean Cq a (SD)	Mean log CFU/g (SD)
3	0 (of 3)	ND	ND
4	1 (of 3)	39.15 (±0.72)	1.4 (±1.1)
5	1 (of 3)	38.39 (±1.01)	1.7 (±1.5)
8	1 (of 3)	38.97 (±0.63)	1.6 (±1.2)
10	1 (of 3)	39.79 (±0.05)	1.3 (±≅ 0)
15	0 (of 3)	ND	ND
17	2 (of 3)	38.9 (±0.07)	1.6 (±0.03)

^aMean Cq represents the mean of the positively quantified samples. Each sample was run in three qPCR replicates. The corresponding mean log CFU/g was calculated from the standard curve.

qPCR, Quantitative real-time PCR.

Cq, Quantification cycle.

SD, Standard deviation.

CFU, Colony-forming units.

ND, Not detected; less than 2 replicates per sample yielded Cq values <40.