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PubMed2004

Microbiological characterization and probiotic potential of koko and koko sour water, African spontaneously fermented millet porridge and drink.

AIMS: To identify and examine the diversity of predominant lactic acid bacteria (LAB) in koko and koko sour water (KSW) from different Ghanaian production sites with regard to pattern of fermentation (API 50 CHL), genotype, antimicrobial activity, and resistance to low pH and bile salts. METHODS AND RESULTS: In total 215 LAB were isolated from koko and KSW. The isolates were identified using intergenic transcribed spacers (ITS)-PCR restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP), API 50 CHL, restriction enzyme analysis with pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (REA-PFGE) and sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene. The dominating micro-organisms in koko was found to be Weisella confusa and Lactobacillus fermentum, followed by Lact. salivarius and Pediococcus spp. Chemometric data analysis were used to link the LAB species to the different production stages and production sites. At intra-species level the isolates were found to have a great diversity. The isolates were investigated for antimicrobial activity using agar diffusion assays, and acid and bile tolerance. Most isolates showed low levels of antimicrobial activity towards the indicator strain Listeria innocua, but not towards the bacteriocin-sensitive Lact. sakei. Growth of all LAB isolates was unaffected by the presence of 0.3% (v/v) oxgall bile. The isolates were able to survive, but were not able to grow in growth medium adjusted to pH 2.5. CONCLUSIONS: The dominating LAB of koko and KSW were W. confusa and Lact. fermentum showing a pronounced taxonomic biodiversity at sub-species level between stages within the production as well as between production sites. Other species observed in KSW were Lact. salivarius, Ped. pentosaceus, Ped. acidilactici and Lact. paraplantarum. They occurred in levels of 108 CFU ml-1 in fresh KSW and showed uniform antimicrobial activity, and acid and bile tolerance. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: The present study gives a detailed picture of the taxonomy and diversity of LAB in an African-fermented millet product that may have potential as a probiotic product for the local population. The chemometric tools Principal Component Analysis and anova Partial Least Squares Regression were proven to be useful in the analysis of microbial groupings and associations with specific sites and stages in the production of koko and KSW.

Africa↗

PubMed2004

Effects of two probiotic Lactobacillus strains on jejunal and cecal microbiota of broiler chicken under acute heat stress condition as revealed by molecular analysis of 16S rRNA genes.

We examined the effects of probiotic Lactobacillus strains of Lactobacillus agilis JCM 1048 and Lactobacillus salivarius subsp. salicinius JCM 1230 on jejunal and cecal microbiota of broiler chicken under heat stress condition using terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism (T-RFLP) analysis. The jejunal bacterial community was limited to a few bacterial groups, mostly Lactobacillus spp. A relatively abundant and higher prevalence of Lactobacillus spp. were observed in the jejunal and cecal microbiota of the probiotic chickens compared with those of the control chickens under heat stress condition. In general, the probiotic strains did not significantly affect the abundance of L. agilis and L. salivarius in chicken intestine but clearly contributed to increasing their prevalence in the probiotic chickens. The probiotic Lactobacillus strains enriched the diversity of Lactobacillus flora in chicken jejunum and cecum by increasing the abundance and prevalence of Lactobacillus spp. inhabiting the intestine. The richness of Lactobacillus species tended to be similar among the jejunal and cecal microbiota. The bacterial community of cecum was complex and age-dependent. The major components of the cecal microbiota were clostridia and lactobacilli. The Clostridium subcluster XIVa was the most predominant group in chicken cecum. Probiotic Lactobacillus strains restored the microbial balance and maintained the natural stability of indigenous bacterial microbiota following heat stress-induced changes.

Age Factors↗

PubMed1988

The detection of irradiated foods using the Direct Epifluorescent Filter Technique.

A method was evaluated which has the potential to detect a food sample which has been irradiated. The technique will give an indication of the total number of viable micro-organisms present before irradiation. It is based on the comparison of an aerobic plate count (APC) with a count obtained using the Direct Epifluorescent Filter Technique (DEFT). When the APC of an irradiated sample was compared with the DEFT count on the same sample, the APC was considerably lower than that obtained by DEFT. The count of orange fluorescing cells after irradiation, however, correlated well with an APC of the same sample before irradiation. For the samples examined the DEFT count determined the viable microbial population in the sample before irradiation. The difference between the APC and the DEFT count gave the number of organisms rendered non-viable by the process.

Animals↗

PubMed2006

Induced thermotolerance under nonisothermal treatments of a heat sensitive and a resistant strain of Staphylococcus aureus in media of different pH.

AIMS: The aim was to assess the induced thermotolerance under nonisothermal treatments of two strains of Staphylococcus aureus in media of different pH. METHODS AND RESULTS: Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923 was more heat resistant than S. aureus ATCC 13565 at any pH investigated under isothermal conditions. At pH 7.4, the D58 value of the resistant strain was approx. 30 times greater. Both strains showed a higher heat resistance at pH 4.0 than at pH 7.4. In contrast, under nonisothermal treatments (0.5-2 degrees C min(-1)), both strains were more heat resistant when treated at pH 7.4 than at pH 4.0 due to heat adaptation at the higher pH. At the slowest heating up rate tested at pH 7.4, the initially heat-sensitive strain nearly reached the thermotolerance of the heat-resistant strain. CONCLUSIONS: The induced thermotolerance under nonisothermal treatments depended on the treatment medium pH and the microbial strain tested. The induced thermotolerance in a sensitive strain can be greater than in a heat-resistant strain, showing similar resistance under nonisothermal conditions. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: This work shows data of interest about mechanisms of microbial resistance and adaptation to heat. Moreover, it contributes to the development of more adequate combined processes for food preservation.

Adaptation, Physiological↗

PubMed2002

Activity and diversity of sulfate-reducing bacteria in a petroleum hydrocarbon-contaminated aquifer.

Microbial sulfate reduction is an important metabolic activity in petroleum hydrocarbon (PHC)-contaminated aquifers. We quantified carbon source-enhanced microbial SO(4)(2-) reduction in a PHC-contaminated aquifer by using single-well push-pull tests and related the consumption of sulfate and added carbon sources to the presence of certain genera of sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB). We also used molecular methods to assess suspended SRB diversity. In four consecutive tests, we injected anoxic test solutions (1,000 liters) containing bromide as a conservative tracer, sulfate, and either propionate, butyrate, lactate, or acetate as reactants into an existing monitoring well. After an initial incubation period, 1,000 liters of test solution-groundwater mixture was extracted from the same well. Average total test duration was 71 h. We measured concentrations of bromide, sulfate, and carbon sources in native groundwater as well as in injection and extraction phase samples and characterized the SRB population by using fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) and denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE). Enhanced sulfate reduction concomitant with carbon source degradation was observed in all tests. Computed first-order rate coefficients ranged from 0.19 to 0.32 day(-1) for sulfate reduction and from 0.13 to 0.60 day(-1) for carbon source degradation. Sulfur isotope fractionation in unconsumed sulfate indicated that sulfate reduction was microbially mediated. Enhancement of sulfate reduction due to carbon source additions in all tests and variability of rate coefficients suggested the presence of specific SRB genera and a high diversity of SRB. We confirmed this by using FISH and DGGE. A large fraction of suspended bacteria hybridized with SRB-targeting probes SRB385 plus SRB385-Db (11 to 24% of total cells). FISH results showed that the activity of these bacteria was enhanced by addition of sulfate and carbon sources during push-pull tests. However, DGGE profiles indicated that the bacterial community structure of the dominant species did not change during the tests. Thus, the combination of push-pull tests with molecular methods provided valuable insights into microbial processes, activities, and diversity in the sulfate-reducing zone of a PHC-contaminated aquifer.

Colony Count, Microbial↗

PubMed2005

Extent and predictors of microbial hand contamination in a tertiary care ophthalmic outpatient practice.

PURPOSE: To measure the extent of microbial hand contamination among ophthalmologists during routine clinic practice and examine its association with hand cleansing practices and beliefs, glove use, and patient load. METHODS: This was a single-masked analysis of resident and transient flora of ophthalmologists before and after patient examination and after handwashing by agar imprints of the dominant hand. Standardized questionnaires were used to collect information concerning subjects' hand cleansing practices and patient load. RESULTS: Of the 108 cultures, 107 (99.1%) were culture positive, yielding 15 separate organisms. Gram-negative bacilli were the most common transient flora, followed by Gram-positive cocci and fungi. Thirty-five (97.2%) ophthalmologists were culture positive for at least one resident and 8 (22.2%) ophthalmologists were culture positive for at least one transient organism, before patient contact. Regression models showed alcohol-based hand rub use, transient and resident floral load before patient contact, and patient load collectively accounted for 58.7% of the variance in resident floral load after patient contact. Use of alcohol-based hand rubs was associated with a mean resident floral reduction of 324.4 CFUs (95% confidence interval [CI] = 185.4 to 463.5; P < 0.01) and 31.6 CFUs (95% CI = 1.2 to 62.0; P < 0.05) after patient contact and handwashing, respectively. Handwashing with chlorhexidine was a significant predictor for transient floral load after handwashing (unstandardized beta = -17.2; 95% CI = -10.2 to -24.2; P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: The extent of contamination with pathogenic organisms after contact with eye outpatients, who have traditionally been perceived as relatively "clean," was of concern. Previously identified risk factors for hand contamination in inpatient settings, such as patient load, only explained a small proportion of variance in microbial load in the ophthalmic outpatient setting.

Bacteria↗

PubMed2007

Comparison of subgingival bacterial sampling with oral lavage for detection and quantification of periodontal pathogens by real-time polymerase chain reaction.

BACKGROUND: Saliva has been studied for the presence of subgingival pathogens in periodontitis patients. With the anaerobic culture technique, the discrepancy between salivary recovery and subgingival presence has been significant, which makes this approach not suitable for practical use in the microbial diagnosis of periodontitis patients. The real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique represents a very sensitive technique to detect and quantify bacterial pathogens. The aim of the study was to compare the presence and numbers of Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans, Porphyromonas gingivalis, Tannerella forsythensis, Prevotella intermedia, and Micromonas micros in subgingival plaque and mouthwash samples by the anaerobic culture and real-time PCR techniques. METHODS: Pooled subgingival plaque samples and 10-ml mouthwash samples were collected from 21 adult patients with periodontitis and analyzed by quantitative anaerobic culture and real-time PCR for A. actinomycetemcomitans, P. gingivalis, T. forsythensis, P. intermedia, and M. micros. RESULTS: The detection frequency of A. actinomycetemcomitans, P. gingivalis, and T. forsythensis in subgingival plaque was identical by culture and real-time PCR and was higher for P. intermedia and M. micros by real-time PCR. The highest detection frequencies for the target bacteria were found in mouthwash samples by real-time PCR. The additional value of the real-time PCR to detect target bacteria was 38% for P. gingivalis, 73% for T. forsythensis, 77% for P. intermedia, and 71% for M. micros. The sensitivity to detect target species in mouthwash by real-time PCR was 100% for all test species except for P. intermedia (93.8%). CONCLUSIONS: Rapid detection and quantification of periodontal pathogens in mouthwash samples are possible by real-time PCR. The procedure is significantly less time-consuming than subgingival sampling with paper points. This approach to detect major periodontal pathogens in mouthwash samples may simplify microbial diagnosis in periodontitis patients and may be used to monitor periodontal treatment.

Adult↗

PubMed2006

Effects of a Lactobacillus casei synbiotic on serum lipoprotein, intestinal microflora, and organic acids in rats.

The main aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of 3 synbiotic diets: 1) containing Lactobacillus casei ASCC 292 and fructooligosaccharides (LF diet); 2) containing L. casei ASCC 292 and maltodextrin (LM diet); and 3) containing L. casei ASCC 292, fructooligosaccharide, and maltodextrin (LFM diet) to reduce serum cholesterol in male Wistar rats. The effect of the synbiotic diets on intestinal microflora, concentration of organic acids, and the possibility of translocation of lactobacilli were also investigated. The LFM diet lowered serum total cholesterol and triglyceride levels, whereas the LM diet increased serum high-density lipoprotein cholesterol level. However, synbiotic diets did not contribute to a change in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol level compared with the control diet. There was a decrease in the population of staphylococci, bacteroides, Escherichia coli, and total coliforms in most bowel regions with the LFM diet compared with the control (which did not contain any synbiotic). In general, the LFM diet contributed to a higher concentration of lactic acid that may have contributed to the decrease in the population of pathogenic microorganisms compared with the control. Fructooligosaccharide was the preferred substrate for production of acetic acid. Results from this study showed that the synbiotic diet that contained L. casei ASCC 292, fructooligosaccharide, and maltodextrin beneficially altered cholesterol levels and produced a healthier bowel microbial population without translocation of lactobacilli to other organs.

Acetic Acid↗

PubMed1996

Biodegradability and microbial activities during composting of poultry litter.

Poultry litter is composted to reduce odor and pathogens and to improve its quality as a soil amendment. Organic material, e.g., sawdust, is added to increase the C:N ratio to achieve optimum degradation of organic C and retention of N through microbial biomass formation. However, the relative biodegradabilities of the organic material in poultry litter and the amendment are usually not known. Furthermore, it is assumed that as microorganisms metabolize organic compounds and produce CO2, they increase in biomass and, therefore, retain N. In this study, bench-scale compost reactors were used to determine the relative contributions of poultry litter and of the amendment (sawdust) to the biodegradability of a compost mix. Approximately 29% of the volatiles lost from the poultry litter mix came from the sawdust. Fiber analyses revealed that only a small portion of cellulose was degraded. Although microbial subpopulations able to degrade selected macromolecules were present at varying levels, the overall level of microorganisms did not change markedly. Populations capable of degrading bacterial cell walls were present throughout the composting period, and microbiological assays indicated that inorganic nutrients were available to support limited microbial growth. These results suggest that N compounds and inorganic nutrients are recycled, rather than fixed during composting.

Animals↗

PubMed2003

More is not necessarily better: prozone-like effects in passive immunization with IgG.

Despite a century of study, the relationship between Ag-specific Ig concentration and protection remains poorly understood for the majority of pathogens. In certain conditions, administration of high Ab doses before challenge with an infectious agent can be less effective than smaller Ab doses, a phenomenon which is consistent with a prozone-like effect. In this study, the relationship between IgG1, IgG2a, IgG2b, and IgG3 dose, infective inocula, and protection was investigated in a mouse model of Cryptococcus neoformans infection. The activity of each IgG subclass ranged from protective to disease-enhancing depending on both the Ab dose and infective inocula used. Enhanced dissemination to the brain was observed in mice given a high IgG2a dose and a relatively low inoculum. Ab administration had immunomodulatory effects, with cytokine expression in lung, brain, and spleen varying as a function of the infective inoculum Ab dose and IgG subclass. In vitro studies did not predict or explain the mechanism of in vivo prozone-like effects, because all isotypes were opsonic and elicited NO release from macrophages. IgG2a was most efficient in inducing a macrophage oxidative burst. These results reveal that an individual Ab can be protective, nonprotective, or disease-enhancing depending on its concentration relative to a challenge inoculum. Our findings have implications for the potential contribution of Ab responses to defense against microbial diseases because Ab-mediated immunity may be protective, nonprotective, or even deleterious to the host.

Animals↗

PubMed2001

Application of multiple antimicrobial interventions for microbial decontamination of commercial beef trim.

Commercially produced, irregularly sized (range, 100 to 400 cm2), uninoculated beef trim was treated by a previously optimized multihurdle antimicrobial process under spray system or hot air gun with set-up speed (1 cm/s): W (water wash at 65 psi for five passes) + HW (82 degrees C water at 30 psi for three passes) + HA (510 degrees C air for five passes) + L (2% [vol/vol] room temperature lactic acid wash at 30 psi for three passes). After treatment, the trim was finely ground, vacuum packaged, and stored at 4 degrees C for up to 20 days. At regular intervals (0, 5, 10, 15, and 20 days of storage at 4 degrees C), the ground beef was analyzed to measure mesophilic aerobic bacteria (APC), coliforms, psychrotrophic bacteria (PCT), and presumptive lactic acid bacteria (PLAB) and compared with the untreated control. The numbers of APC, coliforms, PCT, and PLAB were reduced to nearly nondetectable levels immediately after treatment, with significant differences compared with the control (P < 0.05), then started to increase after 5 to 10 days of storage at 4 degrees C. After 20 days, microbial populations of treated ground beef were significantly lower than those of nontreated ground beef for the numbers of APC, coliforms, PCT, and PLAB (P < 0.05), with differences of 1.2, 2.4, 1.6, and 1.6 log CFU/g, respectively. Based on microbial reduction and quality aspects, the multihurdle antimicrobial process was identified as an effective intervention to reduce coliforms on beef trim.

Animals↗

PubMed1991

Evaluation of a dental unit with a built-in decontamination system.

The efficacy of a dental unit equipped with a system that disinfects and sterilizes the water tubing by flushing with glutaraldehyde was evaluated by inserting Bacillus megaterium spores and Pseudomonas and Moraxella species into the water tubing. Up to 10(8) Pseudomonas and Moraxella organisms were killed during the disinfection cycle, but Bacillus megaterium spores were not. Up to 10(5) spores were eradicated by the sterilization cycle, although the system did not consistently kill 10(8) spores. The water tubing of the new unit was not naturally colonized by water bacteria during an 8-month period prior to the study. Evidence suggested that this was due to antimicrobial activity associated with the plastic tubing; therefore, microbial contamination of new dental units, irrespective of their design, would not be expected, until the inhibitory factor in the plastic tubing has leached out.

Bacillus megaterium↗

PubMed2000

Bacterial counts associated with poultry processing at different sampling times.

Aerobic plate counts, Enterobacteriaceae counts and Pseudomonas counts were performed on neck skin samples from six processing steps in a poultry abattoir at three different sampling times. Sampling time 1 was shortly after start-up of processing operations, time 2 after a tea break which was preceded by a cold water rinse-down of equipment surfaces, and time 3 before shut-down. No significant differences (P > 0.05) in microbial numbers of neck skin samples were observed between the three sampling times at the six sampling sites. At this particular processing plant, therefore, sampling at any time of the processing shift would thus not lead to significantly different bacterial counts of neck skins. The lowest aerobic plate counts, over all three sampling times, were obtained for neck skins sampled after spray washing, and the highest for neck skins sampled after packaging. This indicated the efficacy of the washing step in reducing microbial contamination but subsequent re-contamination of carcasses. Despite the Pseudomonas counts of neck skins being lower than the Enterobacteriaceae counts at the beginning of processing, packaging of carcasses resulted in Pseudomonas counts that were higher than the Enterobacteriaceae counts.

Abattoirs↗

PubMed1996

Criteria for caries removal at the enamel-dentine junction: a clinical and microbiological study.

In the UK cavity preparation at the enamel-dentine junction (EDJ) is considered complete when all soft and/or stained tissue is removed. The aim of the present work was to link the clinical criteria of dentine consistency and dentine colour with the microbiological status of the tissue. Cavities were prepared in 564 teeth. Under rubber dam, access to the EDJ was gained and the sample sites selected (n = 847). Their consistency was noted as hard or soft and wet or dry when probed. The colour of the site was noted as stain-free or stained. Dentine was sampled using a round bur. After microbiological processing the total anaerobic count and counts of mutans streptococci and lactobacilli were expressed as log10 [CFU per sample]. Soft sites harboured significantly more bacteria than hard sites (P < 0.001). Soft and wet sites harboured significantly more bacteria than soft and dry sites (P < 0.001). Stained and hard sites harboured more bacteria than stain-free and hard sites (P < 0.05) but this difference was not considered to be clinically relevant. The relatively simple clinical criteria used here correlated significantly with the microbial findings. All soft dentine must be removed at the EDJ to ensure minimal infection of the underlying hard dentine. However, it may not be necessary to continue preparation until the EDJ is also stain-free.

Adult↗

PubMed2005

Microbiological parameters as indicators of compost maturity.

AIMS: The objectives of this study were to determine the changes of microbial properties of pig manure collected from pens with different management strategies and composted using different turning and moisture regimes; relate their association with humification parameters and compost temperature; and identify the most suitable microbial indicators of compost maturity. METHODS AND RESULTS: Six different microbial parameters, including total bacterial count, oxygen consumption rate, ATP content, dehydrogenase activity, and microbial biomass C and N, along with humification parameters [humic acid (HA), fulvic acid (FA) and HA : FA ratio] and compost temperature were monitored during composting. Significant positive correlations were found between temperature and microbial properties, including O2 consumption rate, ATP content, dehydrogenase activity, and microbial biomass N. The humification parameters also showed significant correlations with microbial properties of the manure compost. For instance, HA contents of pig manures was positively correlated with total aerobic heterotrophs, and microbial biomass N and C; and negatively correlated with O2 consumption rate, ATP content, and dehydrogenase activity. Among the six microbial parameters examined, dehydrogenase activity was the most important factor affecting compost temperature and humification parameters. Composting strategies employed in this study affected the speed of composting and time of maturation. If the moisture content is maintained weekly at 60% with a 4-day turning frequency, the pig manure will reach maturity in 56 days. CONCLUSIONS: The composting process went through predictable changes in temperature, microbial properties and chemical components despite differences in the initial pig manure and composting strategies used. Among the six microbial parameters used, dehydrogenase activity is the most suitable indicator of compost maturity. Compared with respiration rate, ATP content and microbial biomass procedures, dehydrogenase activity is the simplest, quickest, and cheapest method that can be used to monitor the stability and maturity of composts. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: The results presented here show that microbial parameters can be used in revealing differences between composts and compost maturity. The statistical relationship established between humification parameters and microbial parameters, particularly dehydrogenase activity, demonstrates that it is possible to monitor the composting process more easily and rapidly by avoiding longer and more expensive analytical procedures.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

PubMed2001

Fluorescein diacetate hydrolysis as a measure of fungal biomass in soil.

The fatty acid methyl esters of lipids extracted from an agricultural soil in the preharvest period of soybean or middle growth cycle from wheat were characterized and quantified by gas-liquid chromatography. The fatty acids 18:2omega6 and 16:1omega5 were used as markers of saprotrophic and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. In parallel, biomass estimation through plate counts in selective media for cellulolytic and saprotrophic fungi was also performed all throughout a soybean crop or middle growth cycle of wheat. As an enzymatic method, the fluorescein diacetate (FDA) hydrolytic activity of the samples was determined. Owing to the high relationship exhibited by FDA hydrolysis with organic carbon and total nitrogen content of soil, the enzymatic activity was correlated with the microbial biomass estimated through marker lipids or plate counts. The results obtained point out that FDA hydrolysis may be used as a rapid, cheap, and reliable estimator of fungal biomass.

Biomass↗

PubMed1996

Efficacy of the Steri-Shield filtered exhaust helmet in limiting bacterial counts in the operating room during total joint arthroplasty.

Filtered exhaust helmets (space suits) have been reported as efficacious in decreasing wound infections following joint arthroplasty procedures; however, strict experimental control of the many variables related to the incidence of clinical infection has been lacking in these studies, making support of such conclusions difficult. Any potential benefit of filtered exhaust helmets in the control of infection rates can be logically assigned to the reduction of airborne bacterial counts within the operating room. A study was done using the Steri-Shield helmet (Bio-Medical Devices, Irvine, CA) to define its efficacy in limiting airborne bacterial contaminates during total joint arthroplasty. Forty-eight paired prosthetic hip and knee cases were evaluated using a block experimentation design. One case of each pair was done with all surgical and scrub personnel cloaked in Steri-Shield filtered exhaust helmets and the other with the same personnel in conventional paper hoods and masks. Air samples were obtained with an Anderson two-stage viable particle sampler (Anderson Samplers, Atlanta, GA) placed immediately adjacent to the wound. Quantitative microbial cultures were obtained. The filtered exhaust helmet evaluated in this study provided no increased protection against bacterial contamination in the area of the surgical field than conventional paper hoods and masks.

Air Microbiology↗

PubMed2003

Survey of shell egg processing plant sanitation programs: effects on egg contact surfaces.

Sanitation standard operating procedures (SSOPs) are an integral component of process control and are often the first step in the implementation of food safety regulations. The objective of this study was to assess and compare the efficacies of sanitation programs used in a variety of shell egg processing facilities. In-line, off-line, and mixed operations were evaluated. Sixteen direct or indirect egg contact surfaces were sampled in various shell egg processing facilities in the southeast United States. Samples were collected at the end of a processing day (POST) and again the next morning before operations began (PRE). Total aerobic plate counts (APCs) were obtained and Enterobacteriacae were enumerated. No significant differences (P > 0.05) between POST and PRE bacterial counts were found for the 16 sampling sites. In general, high APCs were found on the wall of the recirculating water tank both POST and PRE. The APCs for the rewash belt were considerably high for all plants sampled. APCs were also high for the vacuum loaders. APCs for washers and washer brushes were relatively low for most plants sampled. PRE and POST levels of plant sanitation, as determined by direct microbial plating, did not differ significantly. At this point, it is difficult to draw definitive conclusions about how rigid SSOPs should be for the shell egg processing industry.

Animals↗