Pseudomonas Fluorescens Penetration of Egg Shell Membranes as Influenced by Shell Porosity, Age of Egg and Degree of Bacterial Challenge

Abstract

BACTERIAL entry into the shell egg has been a subject of considerable interest for a number of years as evidenced by the review of Lorenz et al. (1952). Observations made by Sharp (1937) indicated that the shell pores were the major breach for penetration of microorganisms into the egg. Haines (1939) reported that eggs with a higher shell porosity had a more rapid rate of infection than those of lower shell porosity. These findings were also substantiated by Kraft et al. (1958).Elliott (1954) investigated the influence of aging of eggs on their susceptibility to bacterial infection and found that eggs which were stored and then artificially inoculated with bacteria were more readily infected than fresh eggs. MacLaury and Moran (1959) observed a similar susceptibility of aged eggs.Rosser (1942) found that the degree of bacterial contamination on the shell surface was directly related to the percent of infected eggs.