Detection of salmonellas in confectionery products by conductance

A modified lysine decarboxylase broth has been developed which could be used with a Bactometer M123 to differentiate salmonellas from other bacteria by the characteristics of the conductance detection curve. The medium was used in combination with a selenite cystine trimethylamine oxide dulcitol medium to screen 50 strains of salmonellas and 42 strains of other organisms to establish detection curve magnitude and rate values which could be used to identify curves specific to salmonellas. The combination of media detected all salmonellas tested except Salmonella pullorum . The two media were used to screen 100 inoculated product samples with the Bactometer instrument, in parallel with traditional plating procedures, and using various combinations of pre-enrichment and selective enrichment incubation periods. After 24 h pre-enrichment, the Bactometer system detected more positive samples than the conventional plating procedures after pre-enrichment and selective enrichment. It is considered that these media used in parallel in the Bactometer after conventional pre-enrichment could provide a 48 h screening procedure for salmonellas with a sensitivity comparable to present plating procedures.     

Detection of salmonellas in confectionery products by conductance

A modified lysine decarboxylase broth has been developed which could be used with a Bactometer M123 to differentiate salmonellas from other bacteria by the characteristics of the conductance detection curve. The medium was used in combination with a selenite cystine trimethylamine oxide dulcitol medium to screen 50 strains of salmonellas and 42 strains of other organisms to establish detection curve magnitude and rate values which could be used to identify curves specific to salmonellas. The combination of media detected all salmonellas tested except Salmonella pullorum. The two media were used to screen 100 inoculated product samples with the Bactometer instrument, in parallel with traditional plating procedures, and using various combinations of pre-enrichment and selective enrichment incubation periods. After 24 h pre-enrichment, the Bactometer system detected more positive samples than the conventional plating procedures after pre-enrichment and selective enrichment. It is considered that these media used in parallel in the Bactometer after conventional pre-enrichment could provide a 48 h screening procedure for salmonellas with a sensitivity comparable to present plating procedures.     

Comparative study of different methods for detection and enumeration of Salmonella spp. in natural waters

Seven enrichment media (two proposed by the authors) for detecting salmonellas from polluted freshwater were compared. The Most Probable Number technique for enumeration of salmonellas in water samples was used, directly adding filtered water to buffered peptone water as the pre-enrichment medium. The results indicate that Rappaport-Vassiliadis/43 and Rappaport-Vassiliadis/43 supplemented with 10 micrograms of sodium novobiocin per ml are the best media for the recovery and enumeration of salmonellas from water samples.     

Comparative study of different methods for detection and enumeration of Salmonella spp. in natural waters

Seven enrichment media (two proposed by the authors) for detecting salmonellas from polluted freshwater were compared. The Most Probable Number technique for enumeration of salmonellas in water samples was used, directly adding filtered water to buffered peptone water as the pre-enrichment medium. The results indicate that Rappaport-Vassiliadis/43 and Rappaport-Vassiliadis/43 supplemented with 10 μg of sodium novobiocin per ml are the best media for the recovery and enumeration of salmonellas from water samples.     

Studies on isobutyric acid-producing bacteira in silage

The statistical technique of response surface methodology was used to optimize the component concentrations of a Salmonella lysine medium for conductance responses on a Malthus microbial growth analyser. When the original and modified media were compared, conductance changes in pure cultures improved by 135 μS on average, and those from fopds both naturally contaminated and spiked with salmonellas by 220 μS. Salmonellas were successfully isolated from all assays after subculturing conductance broths onto xylose lysine desoxycholate agar and confirming by serology.     

Some modification to the media for rapid automated detection of salmonellas by conductance measurement

A selenite medium for the automated detection of salmonellas by conductance measurements has been modified to eliminate the negative results given by some dulcitol-negative strains. The dulcitol is replaced with mannitol and pre-enrichment is best done in buffered peptone water containing mannitol and dimethylsulphoxide. It is suggested that both versions of the selenite medium be used initially.     

Improved Salmonella recovery from moderate to highly polluted waters

A new enrichment procedure for the recovery of salmonellas from aquatic environments is proposed. It has been tested in a eutrophic lake showing moderate to high faecal contamination levels (the Albufera lake near Valencia, Spain), and in effluents coming into a wastewater treatment plant. The new method consists of the addition of sodium novobiocin to a modification of Rappaport's medium (R10/43°C). The new medium (NR10/43°C) allows a better recovery of salmonellas from water than selenite broth.     

The effect of air on the response of salmonellas in conductance media

The effect of air on the conductance response of salmonellas in three selective media was investigated. When assays were carried out aerobically, the time to observe a presumptive positive in all media was reduced and the conductance change was larger than in assays done under microaerophilic conditions. Low (10²/ml) numbers of pre-enriched salmonellas were detected only under aerobic conditions.     

The effect of sodium sulphacetamide and sodium mandelate in brilliant green agar on the growth of salmonellas

An assessment was made of the ability of 425 isolates of salmonellas, belonging to 54 serotypes, to grow on seven selective media. Several isolates of Salmonella dublin and Salm. paratyphi B failed to grow on brilliant green agar supplemented with sodium sulphacetamide and sodium mandelate. On this medium the colonies of 30 isolates which were able to grow were extremely small after 20 h incubation, and consequently their recognition was difficult. The sodium sulphacetamide was responsible for the reduction in colony size.     

The effect of sodium sulphacetamide and sodium mandelate in brilliant green agar on the growth of salmonellas

An assessment was made of the ability of 425 isolates of salmonellas, belonging to 54 serotypes, to grow on seven selective media. Several isolates of Salmonella dublin and Salm. paratyphi B failed to grow on brilliant green agar supplemented with sodium sulphacetamide and sodium mandelate. On this medium the colonies of 30 isolates which were able to grow were extremely small after 20 h incubation, and consequently their recognition was difficult. The sodium sulphacetamide was responsible for the reduction in colony size.     

Evaluation of different plating media used in the isolation of salmonellas from environmental samples

Different serotypes of salmonellas were compared for selectivity and efficiency of recovery using 11 plating media. No optimal growth was obtained after 24h incubation in any of the media, but after 48h, brilliant green, brilliant green-phenol red-lactose-sucrose, bismuth sulphite, xylose-lysine-deoxycholate and Hektoen enteric agars showed optimal recovery of all the salmonella serotypes.
Xylose-lysine-deoxycholate and brilliant green-phenol red-lactose-sucrose agars were the most selective media for all salmonella serotypes. Addition of 10 μg/ml of sodium novobiocin to the tryptic soy-xylose-lysine and tryptic soy-brilliant green agars significantly improved their selectivity but reduced or inhibited the growth of some salmonella serotypes, including Salmonella typhi. Xylose-lysine-deoxycholate agar gave the highest recovery percentage of stressed salmonellas with a double-agar layer technique. Good recovery was also obtained on brilliant green-phenol red-lactose-sucrose, tryptic soy-brilliant green, tryptic soy-brilliant green-novobiocin, tryptic, soy-xylose-lysine and tryptic soy-xylose-lysine-novobiocin agars. Salmonella-shigella agar was the least efficient medium for the recovery of salmonellas under stress-induced or non-stressed conditions.     

Evaluation of different plating media used in the isolation of salmonellas from environmental samples

Different serotypes of salmonellas were compared for selectivity and efficiency of recovery using 11 plating media. No optimal growth was obtained after 24 h incubation in any of the media, but after 48 h, brilliant green, brilliant green-phenol red-lactose-sucrose, bismuth sulphite, xylose-lysine-deoxycholate and Hektoen enteric agars showed optimal recovery of all the salmonella serotypes. Xylose-lysine-deoxycholate and brilliant green-phenol red-lactose-sucrose agars were the most selective media for all salmonella serotypes. Addition of 10 micrograms/ml of sodium novobiocin to the tryptic soy-xylose-lysine and tryptic soy-brilliant green agars significantly improved their selectivity but reduced or inhibited the growth of some salmonella serotypes, including Salmonella typhi. Xylose-lysine-deoxycholate agar gave the highest recovery percentage of stressed salmonellas with a double-agar layer technique. Good recovery was also obtained on brilliant green-phenol red-lactose-sucrose, tryptic soy-brilliant green, tryptic soy-brilliant green-novobiocin, tryptic, soy-xylose-lysine and tryptic soy-xylose-lysine-novobiocin agars. Salmonella-shigella agar was the least efficient medium for the recovery of salmonellas under stress-induced or non-stressed conditions.     

A comparison of isolation procedures for salmonellas from polluted water using two forms of Rappaport's medium

F ricker , C.R. 1984. A comparison of isolation procedures for salmonellas from polluted water using two forms of Rappaport's medium. Journal of Applied Bacteriology 56 , 305–309.
The efficiency of Rappaport's broth (RB10) and Rappaport's broth containing novobiocin (NRB10) were compared for the isolation of salmonellas from polluted water, both as direct enrichment media and after pre-enrichment in buffered peptone water. Ninety samples were examined and 41 were found to contain salmonellas by at least one of the procedures used. Direct inoculation of the sample into RB10 resulted in the recovery of salmonellas from only 29.3% of the samples found to be positive. The use of NRB10 as a direct enrichment medium increased the percentage recovery to 78.0% of the total positive samples. Pre-enrichment in buffered peptone water allowed the recovery of salmonellas from a total of 41 samples whereas direct enrichment recovered them from only 32. No significant difference was demonstrated in the efficiencies of RB10 and NRB10 in recovering salmonellas after pre-enrichment in buffered peptone water. Three selective agars were used; no significant difference in their ability to recover salmonellae was demonstrated.     

Evaluation of lysine-iron-cystine-neutral red for the detection of salmonellas in the Bactometer

Ninety-five salmonellas and 40 non-salmonellas were screened in the Bactometer using lysine-iron-cystine-neutral red (LICNR) in order to evaluate the selectivity of the medium for the detection of salmonellas. Results for blackening of the medium in the well (indicating hydrogen sulphide, H₂S, production) and step size are presented. Five out of 95 salmonellas tested failed to produce blackening in the well, four of these five are known to be non-H₂S producers. Although salmonellas generally gave a larger step value than non-salmonellas, this criterion could not be used to distinguish reliably the two groups of organisms.     

The Occurrence and Survival of Coliforms and Salmonellas in Apple Juice and Cider

Apples and juices from large and small cidermakers were examined for the presence of coliform organisms and salmonellas. Coliforms were found both on the fruit and in the juice, and salmonellas were isolated on more than one occasion from the flume water. Experiments showed that salmonellas could survive in apple juice for 30 d at a pH of 3·6.     

Detection of salmonellas in animal feeds by electrical conductance

A comparison was made between standard culture methods and electrical conductance using a Malthus AT Microbiological Analyser for the examination of animal feeds for salmonella. Conductance testing with a selenite cystine/trimethylamine-N-oxide/dulcitol medium resulted in the detection of salmonellas in 49 of 55 known positive animal feeds, 13 of 19 spiked feed samples and 36 of 47 salmonella cultures. Testing with a lysine decarboxylase/glucose medium gave significantly better results (P less than 0.05) than with selenite cystine medium but five lysine decarboxylase negative strains of salmonella were undetected. When both media were used in parallel all salmonella positive samples were detected. No difference was found between preenrichment in buffered peptone water containing trimethylamine/mannitol and that containing lysine/glucose. Positive detection criteria for selenite medium of conductance peak at greater than or equal to 500 microsiemens (microS) with a rate of change of greater than or equal to 60 microS/h or 400-499 microS with a rate of change of greater than or equal to 40 microS/h and for lysine medium with a peak of greater than or equal to 100 microS have been established. The method offers savings in media and operating costs over conventional standard culture methods, provides results within 48 h and is recommended for statutory feed monitoring purposes.     

Dynamics of salmonella isolation with modified Rappaport's medium (R10)

Enhanced growth of salmonellas in Rappaport's medium as modified by Vassiliadis et al. (1976) after pre-enrichment in buffered peptone water during the first 6 h was obtained by replacement of tryptone by soya peptone. The competing bacteria, i.e. those which grow on brilliant green agar and which may interfere with the isolation of salmonellas when Rappaport's medium (R10) incubated at 43°C is used for enrichment were inhibited or reduced in numbers when the normal amount of 5 g soya peptone/litre was used. When the amount was increased to 10 g/l, growth occurred, mainly of Enterobacter and Klebsiella species. The isolation of salmonellas was found to be largely dependent on the number and the ratio of their competitors. Every measure taken to reduce the number of competitive bacteria increases the possibility of isolating salmonellas. This explains the effect of improved selectivity of Rappaport's medium when small inocula are used. Rapid onset of growth of salmonellas by employing soya peptone introduces the possibility of using shorter incubation times than 48 h.     

A note on adhesion of bacteria to chicken muscle connective tissue

Laboratory cultures of bacteria were tested for the ability to attach to collagen fibres of intact chicken muscle connective tissue. All salmonellas, fimbriate strains of Escherichia coli and a strain of Campylobacter coli were able to attach to tissue only when suspended in distilled water. Prior immersion of tissue in sterile water for 20 min or extended immersion in these bacterial suspensions was a prerequisite for adhesion. Attachment could be prevented by the addition of physiological levels of sodium chloride to the attachment medium.     

Dynamics of salmonella isolation with modified Rappaport's medium (R10)

Enhanced growth of salmonellas in Rappaport's medium as modified by Vassiliadis et al. (1976) after pre-enrichment in buffered peptone water during the first 6 h was obtained by replacement of tryptone by soya peptone. The competing bacteria, i.e. those which grow on brilliant green agar and which may interfere with the isolation of salmonellas when Rappaport's medium (R10) incubated at 43 degrees C is used for enrichment were inhibited or reduced in numbers when the normal amount of 5 g soya peptone/litre was used. When the amount was increased to 10 g/l, growth occurred, mainly of Enterobacter and Klebsiella species. The isolation of salmonellas was found to be largely dependent on the number and the ratio of their competitors. Every measure taken to reduce the number of competitive bacteria increases the possibility of isolating salmonellas. This explains the effect of improved selectivity of Rappaport's medium when small inocula are used. Rapid onset of growth of salmonellas by employing soya peptone introduces the possibility of using shorter incubation times 48 h.     

A note on adhesion of bacteria to chicken muscle connective tissue

Laboratory cultures of bacteria were tested for the ability to attach to collagen fibres of intact chicken muscle connective tissue. All salmonellas, fimbriate strains of Escherichia coli and a strain of Campylobacter coli were able to attach to tissue only when suspended in distilled water. Prior immersion of tissue in sterile water for 20 min or extended immersion in these bacterial suspensions was a prerequisite for adhesion. Attachment could be prevented by the addition of physiological levels of sodium chloride to the attachment medium. Furthermore, attached bacteria could be removed by rinsing tissues in saline media.