APPLICABILITY OF A MODEL FOR NONPATHOGENIC ESCHERICHIA-COLI FOR PREDICTING THE GROWTH OF PATHOGENIC ESCHERICHIA-COLI

A model was developed for the temperature dependence of growth rate of a non-pathogenic Escherichia coli strain. The suitability of that mod el for predicting the growth rate of pathogenic E. coli strains was as sessed. Growth rates of pathogenic strains were found to be adequately described by the model. Model predictions were also found to describe sufficiently well-published growth rate data for non-pathogenic E. co li on mutton carcase surfaces and E. coli O157:H7 in ground roasted be ef, milk, and on cantaloupes and water melons. In addition, E. coli O1 57:H7 was found to grow in the region of 44-45.5 degrees C.