IMMUNOMAGNETIC SEPARATION AND CONVENTIONAL CULTURE PROCEDURE FOR DETECTION OF NATURALLY-OCCURRING SALMONELLA IN RAW PORK SAUSAGES AND CHICKEN MEAT

The aim of the study was to compare immunomagnetic separation (IMS) an d conventional selective enrichment procedures using selenite cystine broth (SC) and Rappaport-Vassiliadis broth (RV) in 137 naturally conta minated food samples (69 ran pork sausages and 68 chicken meat). The u tilization of SC or IMS appeared to be the most appropriate enrichment procedure: 15 out of 18 Salmonella-positive samples (83.3% ) were det ected by SC and 12 (66.7%) by IMS; RV yielded only seven positive isol ations (38.9%). However, RV yielded the highest count of Salmonella co lonies per plate and the lowest interference by competing organisms. I MS could become a reliable alternative to standard enrichment procedur es and a combined IMS and selective enrichment broth could increase th e chance of Salmonella recovery.