COMPARISON OF DIFFERENT SELECTIVE METHODS FOR DETECTION OF LISTERIA SPECIES IN SURFACE-WATER

Tests were carried out to evaluate the efficiency of various combinati ons of selective enrichment and plating techniques using pure cultures of Listeria monocytogenes, Listeria seeligeri and Listerin innocua in suspension and samples of surface water. The best yields for the vari ous Listeria spp, were obtained after a single passage in LEE (Oxoid) or LEE Buffered (Oxoid) and after using Palcam and Oxford agar (Oxoid) . Palcam agar was, however, shown to be the most efficient means of de tecting the Listerin spp. in the natural water samples.