Listeria monocytogenes isolation from human faecal specimens: experiments with the selective media, PALCAM and L-PALCAMY

The selective media PALCAM and L-PALCAMY were evaluated for their potential ability to detect Listeria monocytogenes in faeces. Recovery on PALCAM was almost total, and similar at 30°C and 35°C with or without CO₂ incubation. Warm enrichment in L-PALCAMY was necessary in order to detect low numbers (<10²/ml faeces). Faeces in excess of 0.25 ml/10 ml L-PALCAMY was inhibitory. The results point to L-PALCAMY and PALCAM as an epidemiological tool.