Citrox Improves the Quality and Shelf Life of Chicken Fillets Packed under Vacuum and Protects against Some Foodborne Pathogens.

Hany Mohamed Yehia,Abdulrahman Hamad Al-Masoud,Wafa Abdullah Al-Megrin,Manal Fawzy Elkhadragy

doi:10.3390/ani9121062

Abstract

Natural antibacterial agents such as citrox are effective against many foodborne pathogens and foods contaminated with bacteria. We studied the antimicrobial effects of citrox solutions (1% and 2%) on the total viable counts of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in chicken meat fillets. The total coliform group counts found in the chicken samples were also determined. The samples were treated with S. aureus at a concentration of 106 colony-forming units (cfu)/g of meat and vacuum-packed (VP) at 4 °C for 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, and 21 days. We also studied the effect of citrox on the total volatile basic nitrogen (TVBN) content and pH changes during the storage period of the meat samples. The results revealed that citrox inhibited the growth of MRSA in the chicken fillets. The total viable counts of MRSA decreased after treatment with 2% citrox in all treated samples that were stored at 4 °C by approximately 2 log units compared with the samples inoculated with S. aureus (Chicken-Staph groups) after 3, 6, 9, and 12 days of storage, and by approximately 1 log unit compared with the control samples treated with salt (Chicken-Salt groups) after 3, 6, and 9 days of storage. TVBN was reduced in the Chicken-Citrox-treated samples stored at 4 °C compared with the Chicken-Staph- and Chicken-Salt-treated samples. The results indicated that citrox is effective in reducing the total counts of MRSA and in improving the quality of chicken during the first three days of storage by reducing the number of bacteria by 1 log unit and extending the shelf life of chicken.

Highlights

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) was identified in 1962 and, together with certain species of Enterococcus, is currently considered a global pandemic threat [1,2]
S. aureus is classified into three groups, of which healthcare-associated methicillin-resistant S. aureus (HA-methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)) is considered a major causative agent of chronic diseases and is present in catheters among other places
The total viable count (TVC), which estimates the concentration of microorganisms in a sample, is commonly used as a microbiological parameter

Summary

Introduction

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) was identified in 1962 and, together with certain species of Enterococcus, is currently considered a global pandemic threat [1,2]. S. aureus is classified into three groups, of which healthcare-associated methicillin-resistant S. aureus (HA-MRSA) is considered a major causative agent of chronic diseases and is present in catheters among other places. After two decades from its discovery, the first case of acquired community-associated. S. aureus MRSA (CA-MRSA) was reported in many countries [3], as was livestock-associated S. aureus (LA-MRSA). LA-MRSA has been reported to be associated with companion animals [4,5,6,7]. The HA-MRSA and CA-MRSA infections that generally affect humans are not involved in livestock infections. LA-MRSA may affect humans, especially in the case of occupational contact

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