G. Duffy et al., A membrane-immunofluorescent-viability staining technique for the detection of Salmonella spp. from fresh and processed meat samples, J APPL MICR, 89(4), 2000, pp. 587-594
A direct staining technique was investigated for the detection of viable Sa
lmonella in fresh and processed meats. The technique involved overnight enr
ichment in BPW, extraction of Salmonella cells onto a polycarbonate membran
e, followed by detection of the pathogen using anti-Salmonella monoclonal a
ntibody coupled with an antibody linked-fluorescent stain (Texas Red) and a
viability stain (Sytox Green). The technique was applied to the detection
of Salm. enteritidis inoculated into broth culture or minced beef and then
subjected to a variety of stresses including freezing (- 20 degreesC), heat
ing (2 or 4 min at 56.9 degreesC), low pH (5 or 3.5) or high salt (2 or 4%)
. The correlation between traditional plate counts and the rapid count vari
ed widely (r(2) = 0.98-0.03), depending on the type and level of stress app
lied to the cells. The reason for the disparity in results obtained, and th
e potential application of the method as a diagnostic tool, are discussed.