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Methods to Detect the Occurrence of Various Indicator Bacteria on the Surface of Retail Poultry in Spain
Author(s) -
Capita R.,
AlonsoCalleja C.,
GarcíaArias M.T.,
Moreno B.,
GarcíaFernández M. Del Camino
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
journal of food science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.772
H-Index - 150
eISSN - 1750-3841
pISSN - 0022-1147
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2621.2002.tb10673.x
Subject(s) - enterobacteriaceae , broiler , escherichia coli , biology , food science , bacteria , contamination , coliform bacteria , membrane filter , microbiology and biotechnology , veterinary medicine , membrane , ecology , biochemistry , medicine , genetics , gene
Contamination levels (cfu/g and cfu/cm 2 ) of indicator microorganisms in retail broiler chicken carcasses in León (Spain) were investigated. Counts (log 10 cfu/g) were 5.19, 3.04, 2.73, 3.38, and 3.16 for total aerobic counts ( TAC), Enterobacteriaceae , coliforms determined by the standard VRBA method (coliforms‐VRBA), coliforms determined by the Hydrophobic Grid Membrane Filter method (coliforms‐HGMF), and Escherichia coli (HGMF method), respectively. These values fit into the microbiological criteria for poultry meat consulted. A low correlation coefficient was found between TAC and Enterobacteriaceae counts (r = 0.308; P = 0.053) and between coliforms‐VRBA and coliforms‐HGMF counts ( r = 0.398; P = 0.048). The determination method had a significant influence on the coliform counts obtained. All broiler chicken carcasses harbored E. coli biotype I. E. coli biotype II was detected in 20% of the samples. The HGMF method was not completely specific for detecting E. coli since 11.25% of false positive colonies were found.