DEVELOPMENT OF AN IMAGE SYSTEM FOR THE STUDY OF VIABLE BUT NON-CULTURABLE FORMS OF CAMPYLOBACTER-JEJUNI AND ITS USE TO DETERMINE THEIR RESISTANCE TO DISINFECTANTS

A vital staining method incorporating fluorescence microscopy and imag e analysis has been developed to study the viable but non-culturable ( VNC) form of Campylobacter jejuni. This method was used to determine t he comparative resistance of the culturable and VNC forms to proprieta ry disinfectants chosen to represent the four main groups of disinfect ants used in food processing operations, namely quaternary ammonium co mpounds (QACs) and QACs combined with glutaraldehyde, amphoterics and chlorine. With all disinfectants except chlorine the culturable form w as significantly more resistant than the VNC form. The resistance of t he VNC form to chlorine may have significance for cleaning and deconta mination in the food industry (C) 1998 Academic Press.