Selective Enrichment Media Research Articles

Miniaturized most probable number for the enumeration of Salmonella sp in artificially contaminated chicken meat

Salmonella is traditionally identified by conventional microbiological tests, but the enumeration of this bacterium is not used on a routine basis. Methods such as the most probable number (MPN), which utilize an array of multiple tubes, are time-consuming and expensive, whereas miniaturized most probable number (mMPN) methods, which use microplates, can be adapted for the enumeration of bacteria, saving up time and materials. The aim of the present paper is to assess two mMPN methods for the enumeration of Salmonella sp in artificially-contaminated chicken meat samples. Microplates containing 24 wells (method A) and 96 wells (method B), both with peptone water as pre-enrichment medium and modified semi-solid Rappaport-Vassiliadis (MSRV) as selective enrichment medium, were used. The meat matrix consisted of 25g of autoclaved ground chicken breast contaminated with dilutions of up to 106 of Salmonella Typhimurium (ST) and Escherichia coli (EC). In method A, the dilution 10-5 of Salmonella Typhimurium corresponded to >57 MPN/mL and the dilution 10-6 was equal to 30 MPN/mL. There was a correlation between the counts used for the artificial contamination of the samples and those recovered by mMPN, indicating that the method A was sensitive for the enumeration of different levels of contamination of the meat matrix. In method B, there was no correlation between the inoculated dilutions and the mMPN results.

Paenibacillus lentus sp. nov., a β-mannanolytic bacterium isolated from mixed soil samples in a selective enrichment using guar gum as the sole carbon source

A novel bacterial strain, CMG1240(T), was isolated in 1988 from mixed soil samples collected from the United States and South America in a selective enrichment medium with guar gum as the sole carbon source. This microbial isolate showed β-mannanolytic activity to hydrolyse the galactomannans present in guar gum. Strain CMG1240(T) was aerobic, Gram-stain-variable, non-motile, rod-shaped and endospore-forming. It was further examined based on a combination of phenotypic, physiological and genetic characterization. On the basis of 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity, cellular lipid profile and fatty acid composition, strain CMG1240(T) was shown to belong unequivocally to the genus Paenibacillus. Quinone analysis showed that MK-7 was the only menaquinone detected. The main cell-wall sugar was xylose with trace amounts of mannose and glucose. The major polar lipids were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, and unknown glycolipids, phospholipids, phosphoglycolipids and other lipids. The peptidoglycan structure was A1γ (meso-diaminopimelic acid-direct). The major fatty acids were anteiso-C15 : 0 and C16 : 0. The DNA G+C content was 46 mol% as determined experimentally and by analysis of the genomic sequence. The 16S rRNA gene sequence of strain CMG1240(T) shared highest similarity with that of Paenibacillus fonticola ZL(T) (97.6 %) while all other tested Paenibacillus strains showed lower sequence similarities (≤95.3 %). The results of DNA-DNA hybridization and chemotaxonomic tests enabled the genotypic and phenotypic differentiation of strain CMG1240(T) from P. fonticola. Based on these results, strain CMG1240(T) ( = ATCC BAA-2594(T) = DSM 25539(T)) should be designated the type strain of a novel species within the genus Paenibacillus, for which the name Paenibacillus lentus sp. nov. is proposed.

English

A cross sectional study was conducted between November, 2011 and April, 2012 to determine the prevalence and risk factors associated with Salmonella infection among chicken flocks in Jimma town, Ethiopia. Management system, sex, season, age and breed of the chicken flocks examined in the study were considered as risk factors and evaluated whether they are associated with Salmonella infection or not. A bacteriological examination was carried out on 384 faecal samples originated from 232 exotic chicken flocks which were kept indoors and 152 local chicken flocks which were free ranging. The faecal samples were enriched with peptone water for 24 h and then seeded on the selective enrichment media, Rappaport Vassiliadis Soy Broth and incubated at 37°C for 24 h. Following selective enrichment, 0.1 ml of the pre enriched broth of the various dilutions were streaked aseptically into Xylose Lysine Desoxycholate (XLD) agar plates and incubated at 37°C for 24 h. Presumptive identification of Salmonella was done based on morphology and colour of the colonies on the culture media. Final identification and assignment of Salmonella was conducted by employing biochemical tests such indole production, citrate utilization and urease tests. The identification result proved the overall prevalence of Salmonella to be 41.9%. The prevalence of Salmonella infection were found to be higher in indoor chickens (42.7%) than chickens that were kept as free ranging (40.8%) but there was no statistically significant difference (p>0.05) on the prevalence ofSalmonella infection in chicken flocks between management systems. The prevalence ofSalmonella in female chicken flocks (43.0%) was higher than in male chicken flocks (39.0%) and there was no statistical significant difference (P>0.05) on the prevalence ofSalmonella between sexes. The highest prevalence of Salmonella was recorded during spring (47.7%) followed by autumn (39.7%) and the lowest prevalence of Salmonellainfection among chicken flocks was seen during winter (36.8%). Statistical analysis of the data showed that there was no statistical significant difference (P>0.05) on the prevalence of Salmonella in chicken flocks among seasons. Layers and cocks were proved to be highly infected with Salmonella (46.2%) followed by broilers (41.3%). The lowest prevalence of Salmonella infection was seen in chickens (40.8%). There was no statistical significant difference (P>0.05) on the prevalence of Salmonella in chicken flocks among ages. The prevalence of Salmonella was proved to be higher in exotic breed chicken flocks (42.7%) than chicken flocks which were kept as free ranging (40.8%). Analysis of the data showed there was no statistical significant difference (P>0.05) on the prevalence of Salmonella among chicken flocks between breeds. The prevalence of Salmonellaamong chicken flocks in Jimma town, Ethiopia, was proved to be very high. Hence, strengthening the knowledge, attitude and practice of chicken flock owners must be inaugurated in the area to mitigate the economic losses which could arise due toSalmonella infection in chicken flocks.   Key words: Salmonella, prevalence, chicken flocks, Jimma town, Ethiopia.

Response surface methodology to design a selective enrichment broth for rapid detection of Salmonella spp. by SYBR Green Ι real-time PCR

In order to meet dominant growth of Salmonella spp. in a composed system of five pathogens for accurate detection, designing an appropriate selective enrichment broth was clearly needed. First, we built a high-throughput assay procedure based on SYBR Green Ι real-time PCR, which possessed the necessary specificity for Salmonella spp., a good linear standard curve with typical R (2) value (0.9984) and high amplification efficiency (99.0 %). Further, for the larger target biomass in the mixed microflora, acarbose, LiCl and bile salt were selected to optimize their concentrations using response surface methodology (RSM). A central composite design was employed to collect the data and fit the response. A quadratic polynomial model was derived by computer simulation. Statistical analysis was carried out to explore the action and interaction of the variables on the response. In the end, a novel broth (Sal-5) was formulated to allow the efficient enrichment of Salmonella spp. and inhibit the growth of other tested strains. A detection platform was developed, including selective enrichment in Sal-5, DNA extraction by the boiling lysis method and real-time PCR test based on SYBR Green Ι. This work could extend the application of RSM and real-time PCR in the design of other selective enrichment media for common pathogens.

Occurrence of Listeria species in different captive wild animals of Nandankanan Zoo, Baranga, Odisha, India

Listeria species were isolated from faecal samples collected from different captive wild animals of Nandankanan Zoo, Baranga, Odisha, using selective enrichment medium. The isolates were characterized based on their cell morphology, biochemical and sugar fermentation characteristics as well as culture morphology. Further, in vitro and in vivo pathogenicity tests were carried out to assess the pathogenic potential of the isolates. Listeria were found in 24 (23.07%) of the total 104 faecal samples. Listeria were isolated from the samples of tiger, bear, hyena, leopard, zebra, elephant, jackal, lion, barking deer, porcupine, chital, monkey and wild boar. Out of the 24 Listeria isolates 11 were confirmed as L. monocytogenes. The other 13 isolates included L. innocua, L. seeligeri, L. welshimeri and L. ivanovii. The pathogenicity study revealed that only four isolates were pathogenic. Three of these were L. monocytogenes isolated from tiger, hyena and elephant and one was L. ivanovii isolated from leopard. Antibiotic sensitivity of the 24 isolates was high towards ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin, amoxicillin, azithromycin and enrofloxacin. The isolates showed resistance towards oxytetracyclin, gentamicin, cephadroxil, penicillin- G and nalidixic acid.

Infectious abortion caused by Salmonella enterica subsp enterica serovar Abortusequi in Argentina

The equine host-adapted serovar, Salmonella enterica subsp enterica (See) serovar Abortusequi (SeeA) cause a disease called equine paratyphoid. The disease is manifested as abortion with other signs, including fistulous withers, septicemia, and arthritis. SeeA is transmitted by the ingestion of contaminated food with uterine secretions of aborted mares [1]. Different episodes of reproductive failure have recently been reported at several farms in the Province of Buenos Aires. Some of these episodes were studied at the Laboratory-School of Diagnosis of Infectious Diseases at the Veterinary University, and in two of these cases, the isolation of the SeeA bacterium was posible. The recovery of this bacterium gives an alarm signal; therefore, we should reconsider former agents responsible for reproductive diseases which now re-emerge due to the lack or discontinuation of preventive immunizations or due to critical points that we should not dismiss when considering the epidemiology of the agent. The objective of this study is to identify the cause of abortions that showed clinical, anatomic and pathological features of the bacterial abortions reported at different farms. Placentas from aborted mares and aborted fetuses were examined. For the isolation of bacteria, heart blood, liver, spleen, lung, intestine and stomach content were cultured in pre enrichment and selective enrichment medium. The enrichment medium was streaked onto XLD and MacConkey agar plates. Salmonella like isolates were identified by biochemical analysis using primary and secondary test as described Cowan and Steel, 2003. [2] The serotype was verified at the Bacteriology Departament, INEI ANLIS Dr. Carlos G. Malbran. Dra. Maria Ines Caffer, Three placentas from aborted mares and three aborted fetuses were examined. Fibrinonecrotic exudates or congestion were observed at the placentas. Liver and lung congestions and intestine petechial hemorrhages were observed at the fetuses. See was isolated from two fetuses from heart blood, liver, spleen and lung. UBA 874 Salmonella Abortusequi (4,12:-:e,n,x) and UBA 879 Salmonella Abortusequi (4,12:-:e,n,x) were identified from the two spleens. The strains were used for developing formalin-inactivated bacterins in Tymerosal and OHAl adjuvant. The SeeA is a hard-to-isolate bacterium so in this study it was isolated in two samples only. Both isolated samples were enough to conclude that we are facing a reemerging disease. It is known that animals with positive serologic response as well as vaccinated animals cannot be reinfected by the Salmonella bacterium. The complete aborted animal, fetal organs, placenta or even fecal material are adequate samples for cultivation since isolation and identifications provide the definitive diagnosis.

Development of a Method for the Detection of Verotoxin-Producing Escherichia coli in Food

The growing recognition of the role of non-O157 verotoxigenic Escherichia coli (VTEC) in foodborne illness underscores the importance of developing methods to detect it in the food supply. We describe here the development of a protocol for the detection, isolation, and characterization of VTEC from foods, designed for the serotype-independent enrichment, detection, and isolation of VTEC, in combination with rapid characterization of VTEC O157, O26, O103, O111, and O145. This study examined the inhibitory concentration of six antimicrobial agents used either singly or in combination for the optimal enrichment of a panel of 18 different O serogroups of VTEC in modified tryptic soy broth. Considerable variability in resistance to the different antimicrobials tested was noted among different VTEC strains. The combination enabling growth of strains of all 18 different O serogroups was vancomycin (10 μg/ml) and cefsulodin (3 μg/ml). A similar combination of antimicrobials formulated in agar plates was found beneficial in the recovery of VTEC strains from enrichment broth cultures. The efficacy of these media in the recovery of selected VTEC (O26, O103, O111, O145, and O157) from ground beef and O157 VTEC from lettuce, spinach, and apple cider was demonstrated. The selective enrichment media described herein would appear suitable for incorporation in methods for the recovery and detection of a wide range of VTEC serogroups.

Use of RapidChek® SELECT™ Salmonella to detect shedding of live attenuated Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi vaccine strains

Identification of individuals shedding Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi in stool is imperative during clinical trial safety evaluations. Recovery of live attenuated S. Typhi vaccine strains can be difficult because the mutations necessary for safety in humans often compromise survival in stringent selective enrichment media. RapidChek® SELECT™ Salmonella is a highly sensitive detection method for S. enterica species which utilizes a bacteriophage cocktail designed to reduce the growth of competitor microbes in mildly selective enrichment medium. Detection of Salmonella is enhanced by means of a Salmonella-specific antibody strip targeted to lipopolysaccharide. The RapidChek® SELECT™ Salmonella method was compared to conventional enrichment and plating methods to determine the most sensitive method for detecting attenuated S. Typhi strains in human stool samples. Although traditional enrichment strategies were more sensitive to the presence of wild-type S. Typhi, RapidChek® SELECT™ Salmonella was superior at detecting attenuated strains of S. Typhi. Strains containing a wide variety of attenuating mutations were detected with equal sensitivity as the wild type by RapidChek® SELECT™ Salmonella. The presence of Vi capsule or mutations which affected O-antigen synthesis (Δpmi, ΔgalE) did not decrease the sensitivity of the RapidChek® SELECT™ Salmonella assay.

Reveal®Listeria 2.0 Test for Detection of Listeria spp. in Foods and Environmental Samples

A Performance Tested Method validation study was conducted for a new lateral flow immunoassay (Reveal Listeria 2.0) for detection of Listeria spp. in foods and environmental samples. Results of inclusivity testing showed that the test detects all species of Listeria, with the exception of L. grayi. In exclusivity testing conducted under nonselective growth conditions, all non-listeriae tested produced negative Reveal assay results, except for three strains of Lactobacillus spp. However, these lactobacilli are inhibited by the selective Listeria Enrichment Single Step broth enrichment medium used with the Reveal method. Six foods were tested in parallel by the Reveal method and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration/Bacteriological Analytical Manual (FDA/BAM) reference culture procedure. Considering data from both internal and independent laboratory trials, overall sensitivity of the Reveal method relative to that of the FDA/BAM procedure was 101%. Four foods were tested in parallel by the Reveal method and the U.S. Department of Agriculture-Food Safety and Inspection Service (USDA-FSIS) reference culture procedure. Overall sensitivity of the Reveal method relative to that of the USDA-FSIS procedure was 98.2%. There were no statistically significant differences in the number of positives obtained by the Reveal and reference culture procedures in any food trials. In testing of swab or sponge samples from four types of environmental surfaces, sensitivity of Reveal relative to that of the USDA-FSIS reference culture procedure was 127%. For two surface types, differences in the number of positives obtained by the Reveal and reference methods were statistically significant, with more positives by the Reveal method in both cases. Specificity of the Reveal assay was 100%, as there were no unconfirmed positive results obtained in any phase of the testing. Results of ruggedness experiments showed that the Reveal assay is tolerant of modest deviations in test sample volume and device incubation time.

Comparison of different sampling techniques and of different culture methods for detection of group B streptococcus carriage in pregnant women

BackgroundStreptococcus agalactiae (group B streptococcus; GBS) is a significant cause of perinatal and neonatal infections worldwide. To detect GBS colonization in pregnant women, the CDC recommends isolation of the bacterium from vaginal and anorectal swab samples by growth in a selective enrichment medium, such as Lim broth (Todd-Hewitt broth supplemented with selective antibiotics), followed by subculture on sheep blood agar. However, this procedure may require 48 h to complete. We compared different sampling and culture techniques for the detection of GBS.MethodsA total of 300 swabs was taken from 100 pregnant women at 35-37 weeks of gestation. For each subject, one rectovaginal, one vaginal and one rectal ESwab were collected. Plating onto Columbia CNA agar (CNA), group B streptococcus differential agar (GBSDA) (Granada Medium) and chromID Strepto B agar (CA), with and without Lim broth enrichment, were compared. The isolates were confirmed as S. agalactiae using the CAMP test on blood agar and by molecular identification with tDNA-PCR or by 16S rRNA gene sequence determination.ResultsThe overall GBS colonization rate was 22%. GBS positivity for rectovaginal sampling (100%) was significantly higher than detection on the basis of vaginal sampling (50%), but not significantly higher than for rectal sampling (82%). Direct plating of the rectovaginal swab on CNA, GBSDA and CA resulted in detection of 59, 91 and 95% of the carriers, respectively, whereas subculturing of Lim broth yielded 77, 95 and 100% positivity, respectively. Lim broth enrichment enabled the detection of only one additional GBS positive subject. There was no significant difference between GBSDA and CA, whereas both were more sensitive than CNA. Direct culture onto GBSDA or CA (91 and 95%) detected more carriers than Lim broth enrichment and subculture onto CNA (77%). One false negative isolate was observed on GBSDA, and three false positives on CA.ConclusionsIn conclusion, rectovaginal sampling increased the number GBS positive women detected, compared to vaginal and/or rectal sampling. Direct plating on CA and/or GBSDA provided rapid detection of GBS that was at least as sensitive and specific as the CDC recommended method of Lim broth subcultured onto non chromogenic agar.

SEL, a selective enrichment broth for simultaneous growth of Salmonella enterica, Escherichia coli O157:H7, and Listeria monocytogenes.

Multipathogen detection on a single-assay platform not only reduces the cost for testing but also provides data on the presence of pathogens in a single experiment. To achieve this detection, a multipathogen selective enrichment medium is essential to allow the concurrent growth of pathogens. SEL broth was formulated to allow the simultaneous growth of Salmonella enterica, Escherichia coli O157:H7, and Listeria monocytogenes. The results were compared to those obtained with the respective individual selective enrichment broths, Rappaport-Vassiliadis (RV) for S. enterica, modified E. coli broth with 20 mg of novobiocin/liter for E. coli O157:H7, and Fraser broth for L. monocytogenes, and a currently used universal preenrichment broth (UPB). The growth of each pathogen in SEL inoculated at 10(1) or 10(3) CFU/ml was superior to that in the respective individual enrichment broth, except in the case of RV, in which Salmonella cells inoculated at both concentrations grew equally well. In mixed-culture experiments with cells of the three species present in equal concentrations or at a 1:10:1,000 ratio, the overall growth was proportional to the initial inoculation levels; however, the growth of L. monocytogenes was markedly suppressed when cells of this species were present at lower concentrations than those of the other two species. Further, SEL was able to resuscitate acid- and cold-stressed cells, and recovery was comparable to that in nonselective tryptic soy broth containing 6% yeast extract but superior to that in the respective individual selective broths. SEL promoted the growth of all three pathogens in a mixture in ready-to-eat salami and in turkey meat samples. Moreover, each pathogen was readily detected by a pathogen-specific immunochromatographic lateral-flow or multiplex PCR assay. Even though the growth of each pathogen in SEL was comparable to that in UPB, SEL inhibited greater numbers of nontarget organisms than did UPB. In summary, SEL was demonstrated to be a promising new multiplex selective enrichment broth for the detection of the three most prominent food-borne pathogens by antibody- or nucleic acid-based methods.

Estimation of the Diagnostic Accuracy of theinvA‐gene‐based PCR Technique and a Bacteriological Culture for the Detection ofSalmonellaspp. in Caecal Content from Slaughtered Pigs using Bayesian Analysis

The goal of this study was to estimate the accuracy of the invA-gene-based polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and a culture technique based on pre-enrichment with buffered peptone water, three selective enrichment media (selenite, tetrathionate and Rappaport-Vassiliadis broths) and four selective, solid media (Xylose-Lysine-Tergitol-4, Salmonella/Shigella, Hekton-Enteric and MacConkey), for the detection of Salmonella organisms from caecal samples from slaughter pigs. For this purpose a latent-class (Bayesian) approach was used. Two hundred and three slaughtered pigs were used after grouping them into two groups of 96 and 107 animals. Sensitivity (Se) was estimated to be 56% (95% probability interval 40, 76) for culture and 91% (81, 97) for PCR. The specificity (Sp) of the PCR was 88% (80, 95) while the Sp of the culture had been considered 100% in the statistical analysis as all culture-positive samples were confirmed by serotyping. PCR Se was not affected by the Salmonella serotypes present in the samples analysed. Accordingly, a minimum of 25.5% of the pigs was estimated to harbour Salmonella organisms in their faeces. It was concluded that bacteriology on caecal samples alone was a poor diagnostic method, and that the PCR method could be considered a cost-effective alternative to culture in Salmonella monitoring programmes. However, given the moderate Sp of this molecular technique, PCR-positive samples should be further confirmed through bacteriology.

The Effect of Preenrichment and Selective Enrichment Media on Recovery of Salmonella Typhi from the Tropical Fruit Mamey

The Bacteriological Analytical Manual (BAM) Salmonella culture method did not detect Salmonella Typhi in mamey, the tropical fruit that was implicated in a 1999 typhoid outbreak. The relative effectiveness of BAM's nonselective preenrichment and selective media for the recovery of S. Typhi from mamey was examined to determine if the BAM's preenrichment/selective enrichment strategy was the cause of the method's failure with this food. The preenrichment media were lactose broth, buffered peptone water (BPW), and universal preenrichment (UP) broth. The selective enrichment media were selenite cystine (SC) broth, tetrathionate (TT) broth, and Rappaport-Vassiliadis (RV) medium. UP broth was significantly more effective (P < 0.05) than either lactose broth or BPW for the recovery of 2 different S. Typhi strains from mamey. Of 120 test portions tested, 105 S. Typhi-positive test portions were recovered using UP broth, whereas only 1 S. Typhi-positive test portion was recovered using BPW, and no S. Typhi-positive test portions were recovered using lactose broth. SC and TT broths were both significantly more effective (P < 0.05) than RV medium. Of 105 S. Typhi-positive test portions, SC broth recovered 80, TT broth recovered 67, and RV medium recovered 9. After the above comparison, an incomplete UP (UPI) broth formulation was found to be significantly more effective (P < 0.05) than the complete formulation (UPC). Of 80 total positive test portions, UPI recovered 71, whereas UPC recovered only 48. The following UP broth formulations were compared to determine if any of the components of the UP broth formulation were inhibitory to S. Typhi: UPC, UP broth without sodium pyruvate (UPS), UP broth without ferric ammonium citrate (UPF), UP broth without MgSO4 (UPM), and UPI. It was found that none of the ingredients were inhibitory to S. Typhi and that, out of 140 total test portions, UPI and UPF, with 108 and 103 positive test portions, respectively, were significantly more effective (P < 0.05) than the other UP broth formulations (82 for UPC, 74 for UPS, and 60 for UPM). Rather than being inhibitory to the growth of S. Typhi, it appears that ferric ammonium citrate enhanced the growth of competitors which suppressed the growth of S. Typhi. These results demonstrate that UPI and UPF are effective for the recovery of S. Typhi from mamey.

Clavibacter michiganensis subsp. sepedonicus

Clavibacter michiganensis<i> subsp. </i>sepedonicus

Isolation of listeria monocytogenes in neural forms of listeriosis and abortions in ruminants

L. monocytogenes is a food borne pathogen capable of causing serious invasive diseases in humans and animals, including abortion, septicemia, meningitis and meningoencephalitis. Isolation of the agent is the most accurate diagnostic method in all situations of suspected L. monocytogenes infection. Direct isolation of L. monocytogenes is relatively simple in cases when the number of organisms is very large, such as septicaemic disease forms. Isolation is quite difficult if the agent is present in very small quantities, such as in encephalitis, or if the sample is highly contaminated. In this paper we presented the isolation of L. monocytogenes from clinical samples by using selective media for enrichment and isolation, combined with the cold enrichment technique. In our investigation we isolated L. monocytogenes from 18 of the total of 46 investigated tissue samples originating from animals with clinical diagnosis of listeriosis. We also presented the basic differential-diagnostic procedure in relation to the mimicking bacterial species.

A simple cultural method for the presumptive detection of the yeasts Brettanomyces/Dekkera in wines

The development of a simple and reliable procedure, compatible with routine use in wineries, for the presumptive detection of Brettanomyces/Dekkera from wine and wine-environment samples. The method of detection of these yeasts employs a selective enrichment medium. The medium contains glucose (10 g l(-1)) as carbon and energy source, cycloheximide (20 mg l(-1)) to prevent growth of Saccharomyces, chloramphenicol (200 mg l(-1)) to prevent growth of bacteria and p-coumaric acid (20 mg l(-1)) as the precursor for the production of 4-ethyl-phenol. After the inoculation with wine, the medium is monitored by visual inspection of turbidity and by periodic olfactive analysis. Contaminated wines will develop visible turbidity in the medium and will produce the 4-ethyl-phenol off-odour, which can be easily detected by smelling. A selective enrichment liquid medium was developed to differentially promote the growth and activity of Brettanomyces/Dekkera. The method is simple to execute, employing a simple-to-prepare medium and a periodic olfactive detection. The characteristics of the procedure make it particularly applicable in a wine-making environment thus presenting important advantages to the wine industry.

153 Evaluation of a universal selective Burkholderia enrichment medium with potential use in CF patients

153 Evaluation of a universal selective Burkholderia enrichment medium with potential use in CF patients

An Improved Method for the Recovery of Salmonella Serovars from Orange Juice Using Universal Preenrichment Broth

The relative effectiveness of three methods for the recovery of Salmonella serovars from orange juice was determined. One method, a modified Bacteriological Analytical Manual (BAM) procedure consisted of preenrichment in lactose broth at 35°C for 24 h, selective enrichment, and selective plating. Another method, a National Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC 1) procedure, consisted of direct enrichment in tetrathionate broth at 35°C for 24 and 48 h, followed by selective plating. The third method (also from CDC and designated CDC 2) consisted of preenrichment in Universal Preenrichment (UP) broth at 35°C for 24 h, selective enrichment, and selective plating. In 10 experiments encompassing five different Salmonella serovars and 200 test portions per broth, the CDC 1 method recovered 141 Salmonella-positive test portions, the BAM method recovered 151, and the CDC 2 method recovered 171. In 2 of the 10 experiments, with two different Salmonella serovars, the BAM recovered significantly fewer (P < 0.05) Salmonella-positive test portions than did the CDC 2 method. On the basis of the above results, the second phase of this study focused on a comparison of the effectiveness of the BAM-recommended lactose broth and the CDC 2-recommended UP broth as preenrichment media for the recovery of Salmonella serovars from pasteurized and unpasteurized orange juice. Subsequent culture treatment of the two preenrichments was identical so that the effect of other variables (e.g., different selective enrichment media, various incubation temperatures, and different selective plating agars) on the relative performance of these two preenrichment media was excluded. In one of nine experiments, with pasteurized orange juice, lactose broth recovered significantly fewer (P < 0.05) Salmonella-positive test portions than did UP broth. For the combined results of the nine pasteurized orange juice experiments (180 test portions per broth), lactose broth recovered 99 Salmonella-positive test portions, and UP broth recovered 116. In three of seven experiments, with unpasteurized orange juice, lactose broth recovered significantly fewer (P < 0.05) Salmonella-positive test portions than did UP broth. For the combined results of the seven unpasteurized orange juice experiments (140 test portions per broth), lactose broth recovered 73 Salmonella-positive test portions, and UP broth recovered 117. For both pasteurized and unpasteurized orange juice, the total number of Salmonella-positive test portions recovered with UP broth was significantly greater than the number recovered with lactose broth. These results indicate that UP broth is a more effective enrichment broth for the recovery of Salmonella from orange juice than is lactose broth.

Metallo-beta-lactamase producers in environmental microbiota: new molecular class B enzyme in Janthinobacterium lividum.

Eleven environmental samples from different sources were screened for the presence of metallo-beta-lactamase-producing bacteria by using a selective enrichment medium containing a carbapenem antibiotic and subsequently testing each isolate for production of EDTA-inhibitable carbapenemase activity. A total of 15 metallo-beta-lactamase-producing isolates, including 10 Stenotrophomonas maltophilia isolates, 3 Chryseobacterium spp., one Aeromonas hydrophila isolate, and one Janthinobacterium lividum isolate (a species in which production of metallo-beta-lactamase activity was not previously reported), were obtained from 8 samples. In the J. lividum isolate, named JAC1, production of metallo-beta-lactamase activity was elicited upon exposure to beta-lactams. Screening of a JAC1 genomic library for clones showing a reduced imipenem susceptibility led to the isolation of a metallo-beta-lactamase determinant encoding a new member (named THIN-B) of the highly divergent subclass B3 lineage of metallo-beta-lactamases. THIN-B is most closely related (35.6% identical residues) to the L1 enzyme of S. maltophilia and more distantly related to the FEZ-1 enzyme of Legionella gormanii (27.8% identity) and to the GOB-1 enzyme of Chryseobacterium meningosepticum (24.2% identity). Sequences related to bla(THIN-B), and inducible production of metallo-beta-lactamase activity, were also detected in the J. lividum type strain DSM1522. Expression of the bla(THIN-B) gene in Escherichia coli resulted in decreased susceptibility to several beta-lactams, including penicillins, cephalosporins (including cephamycins and oxyimino cephalosporins), and carbapenems, revealing a broad substrate specificity of the enzyme. The results of this study indicated that metallo-beta-lactamase-producing bacteria are widespread in the environment and identified a new molecular class B enzyme in the environmental species J. lividum.

Methods for the detection and isolation of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli.

Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) are an important cause of haemorrhagic colitis and the diarrhoea-associated form of the haemolytic uraemic syndrome. Of the numerous serotypes of E. coli that have been shown to produce Shiga toxin (Stx), E. coli O157:H7 and E. coli O157:NM (non-motile) are most frequently implicated in human disease. Early recognition of STEC infections is critical for effective treatment of patients. Furthermore, rapid microbiological diagnosis of individual patients enables the prompt notification of outbreaks and implementation of control measures to prevent more cases. Most human infections caused by STEC have been acquired by the consumption of contaminated foods, especially those of bovine origin such as undercooked ground beef and unpasteurized cows' milk, and by person-to-person contacts. To identify the reservoirs of STEC and the routes of transmission to man, sensitive methods are needed as these pathogens may only be present in food, environmental and faecal samples in small numbers. In addition, sensitive and rapid detection methods are necessary for the food industry to ensure a safe supply of foods. Sensitive methods are also needed for surveillance programmes in risk assessment studies, and for studies on survival and growth of STEC strains. Cultural methods for the enrichment, isolation and confirmation of O157 STEC are still evolving. Several selective enrichment media have been described, of which modified tryptone soy broth with novobiocin and modified E. coli broth with novobiocin, seem to be the most appropriate. These media are minimally-selective broths that give a somewhat limited differential specificity favouring isolation of O157 STEC, as opposed to other Gram-negative bacteria, in the sample. An incubation temperature of 41-42 degrees C further enhances selectivity. The occurrence of heat-, freeze-, acid- or salt-stressed STEC in foods means that it is important to be able to detect cells that are in a stressed state, as STEC generally have a very low infectious dose, and injured cells mostly retain their pathogenic properties. For the isolation of stressed O157 STEC, pre-enrichment in a non-selective broth is necessary. The most widely used plating medium for the isolation of typical sorbitol-non-fermenting strains of STEC of serogroup O157 is sorbitol MacConkey agar with cefixime and tellurite (CT-SMAC). As some STEC strains are sensitive for tellurite and/or are sorbitol-fermenting, the use of a second isolation medium, such as one of the newer chromogenic media, is recommended. Immunomagnetic separation (IMS) following selective enrichment, and subsequent spread-plating of the concentrated target cells onto CT-SMAC agar, appears to be the most sensitive and cost-effective method for the isolation of E. coli O157 from raw foods. IMS increases sensitivity by concentrating E. coli O157 relative to background microflora, which may overgrow or mimic O157 STEC cells on selective agars. While cultural isolation of O157 STEC from foods and faeces is time-consuming, labour-intensive and hence, costly, rapid immunological detection systems have been developed which significantly reduce the analysis time. These methods include enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs), colony immunoblot assays, direct immunofluorescent filter techniques, and several immunocapture techniques. Both polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies specific for the O and H antigens are used for these methods. Many of these test systems are able to detect less than one O157 STEC cell g(-1) of raw meat after overnight enrichment. Presumptive results are available after just one day, but need to be completed with the isolation of the organisms. The primary use of these procedures is therefore to identify food and faecal samples that possibly contain O157 STEC.