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R M Twedt

Publications and source records attributed to R M Twedt.

25 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Antigenic relationships among strains of Vibrio parahaemolyticus.

The antigenic relationships of 79 strains of Vibrio parahaemolyticus representing 46 assigned K-types were studied by tube agglutination. Homologous titers of 46 anti-K sera ranged from 80 to 2,560. All but three sera exhibited from one to six heterologous reactions, the majority of which gave titers of </=20, but 19 sera showed cross-reactions whose titers exceeded 40. Nine reciprocal and 16 unilateral relationships were described. Some of the cross-reactions involved heat-extractable K-antigens, as determined by absorption with nonheated and heated heterologous antigens, whereas others did not involve K-antigens since absorption with the heterologous antigens had no effect on the homologous systems. On the basis of the reactions of selected antisera to the O-antigens of some of the K-strains, the cross-reactions could not be explained solely on the basis of O-specificities.

Adsorption↗

Assessment of the sanitary effectiveness of holding temperatures on beef cooked at low temperature.

Beef cubes cooked at low temperature were surface inoculated and incubated at 43.3 through 53.3 C to establish temperature limits for growth of staphylococci, salmonellae, and Clostridium perfringens. A greater than 99% reduction in staphylococci was achieved after 6 hr at 48.8 C, of salmonellae at 51.1 C, and of C. perfringens at 53.3 C. There were no survivors of a mixed inoculum of Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella enteritidis, and C. perfringens after 12 hr at 51.1 C.

Animals↗

Modified selective and differential isolation medium for Vibrio parahaemolyticus.

The semiselective salt-starch-agar formulation of Baross and Liston was modified as the result of a systematic study of the effect of each constituent on the growth of Vibrio parahaemolyticus and competitive species characteristic of the marine environment. The selection of nutrient constituents depended on an analysis of their effect on generation time. The addition of inhibitors depended on an analysis of minimal inhibitory concentrations. The modified formulation included: peptone, 2.0%; yeast extract, 0.2%; corn starch, 0.5%; NaCl, 3.0%; agar, 1.5% (pH 8.0). Penicillin at 2 to 5 units/ml increased selectivity without significantly inhibiting Vibrio in pure suspensions. Over 62% of the most sensitive strain (YM-K33) was recovered at a concentration of 5 units of penicillin per ml. The per cent recovery of V. parahaemolyticus from fish homogenate compared favorably with other selective formulations. At an initial concentration of 10(5) cells/ml, recovery varied with the strain used from 60 to 119%, whereas at 10(2) cells/ml the range was 36 to 94%. Applications of the medium for Vibrio quantification are discussed.

Agar↗

Comparative Hemolytic Activity of Vibrio parahaemolyticus and Related Vibrios.

The hemolytic activities of 91 strains of Vibrio parahaemolyticus isolated from human diarrheal stools, sea fish, and sea water; 21 suspected V. parahaemolyticus cultures isolated from wound infections; 14 nonpathogenic marine vibrios; and 21 V. parahaemolyticus isolated from moribund blue crabs Callinectes sapidus were compared. Potentially pathogenic V. parahaemolyticus strains could be differentiated from the related nonpathogenic marine vibrios, because the former hemolyzed hamster, sheep, and human blood, whereas the latter were nonhemolytic. In addition, V. parahaemolyticus isolated from tissue infections could be differentiated from those of the first group isolated from sea fish or human stools, because the former exhibited primarily an alpha-hemolytic reaction on chicken blood; the latter exhibited mostly beta. It is suggested that V. parahaemolyticus isolated from blue crabs may be differentiated from the first group on the basis of their hemolysis of human blood. A useful schema of the differential hemolytic reactions, exhibited by V. parahaemolyticus, tissue infection vibrios, and nonpathogens on hamster, sheep, chicken, goose, and human blood is given. The patterns of hemolytic activity of these groups on special human blood-agar plates (Kanagawa hemolysis) resembled that seen on ordinary human blood-agar.

Journal Article↗

Morphological, cultural, biochemical, and serological comparison of Japanese strains of Vibrio parahemolyticus with related cultures isolated in the United States.

Morphological, cultural, biochemical, and serological characteristics of 79 strains of Vibrio parahemolyticus isolated from patients suffering from gastroenteric disease in Japan were compared with 17 suspected V. parahemolyticus cultures isolated from wound infections and 14 nonpathogenic vibrios isolated from an estuarine environment in the United States. These groups were differentiated on the basis of several key reactions which included: the range of growth temperature and salt tolerance; the production of catalase and acetoin; the hydrolysis of starch; the fermentation and utilization as single carbon source of sucrose, cellobiose, and arabinose; and the ability to swarm on 1% agar. The separation of the groups on the basis of cultural and biochemical analyses was confirmed by means of slide agglutinations with specific anti-K antisera. The results of this study strongly suggest that the wound infection isolates are V. parahemolyticus species which are easily distinguished from the nonpathogenic estuarine vibrios.

Acids↗

Determination of the presence of Listeria monocytogenes in milk and dairy products: IDF collaborative study.

A collaborative study was conducted on the recovery of viable Listeria monocytogenes from milk and dairy products (Camembert cheese, Limburger cheese, skim milk powder, and ice cream). Test portions were homogenized with Listeria-selective liquid enrichment medium and cultured at 30 degrees C for 48 h. The enrichment culture was then subcultured onto a solid isolation medium at 37 degrees C for 48 h. Suspected Listeria colonies were identified by appropriate conventional morphological, physiological, and biochemical tests. Five kinds of dairy matrixes were spiked with L. monocytogenes at 2 levels: 12 and 120 colony forming units (cfu)/25 g. Each of the 18 collaborating laboratories analyzed 15 blind test portions from each matrix, comprising 5 replicates at each spiking level and 5 uninoculated controls, for a total of 1350 analyses. The specificity of the method was 100%; its sensitivity was 94-100% at the high spiking level and 89-98% at the low spiking level, except for Limburger cheese, which was only 68%. No specificity or sensitivity differences were observed between laboratories for all matrixes at the high spiking level and for all except Limburger cheese at the low spiking level. The calculated 50% detection limit for all products except Limburger cheese was 1.6 cfu/25 g; the 50% detection limit for Limburger cheese itself was 4.1 cfu/25 g. The method was adopted first action by AOAC INTERNATIONAL.

Animals↗