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Title: EFFECTIVENESS OF CLEANERS AND SANITIZERS IN KILLING SALMONELLA NEWPORT IN THE GUT OF A FREE-LVING NEMATODE, CAENORHABDITIS ELEGANS

Author
item KENNEY, S. - UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA
item ANDERSON, G. - UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA
item WILLIAMS, P. - UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA
item Millner, Patricia
item BEUCHAT, L. - UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA

Submitted to: Journal of Food Protection
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/25/2004
Publication Date: 10/1/2004
Citation: Kenney, S.J., Anderson, G.L., Williams, P.L., Millner, P.D., Beuchat, L.R. 2004. Effectiveness of cleaners and sanitizers in killing Salmonella Newport in the gut of a free-lving nematode, Caenorhabditis Elegans. Journal of Food Protection. 67(10):21511-2157.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Caenorhabditis elegans, a microscopic, free-living nematode found in soil, has been shown to ingest human enteric pathogens, thereby potentially serving as a vector for preharvest contamination of fruits and vegetables. A study was undertaken to evaluate the efficacy of cleaners and sanitizers in killing Salmonella Newport in the gut of C. elegans. Adult worms were fed nalidixic acid-adapted cells of Escherichia coli OP50 (control) or S. Newport for 24 h, washed, placed on paper discs, and incubated at 4 or 20°C and relative humidites of 33, 75, or 98% for 24 h. Two commercial cleaners (EnforceÒ and K Foam LoÒ) and four sanitizers (2% acetic acid, 2% lactic acid, SanovaÒ, and chlorine [50 and 200 µg/ml]) were applied to worms for 0, 2, or 10 min. Populations of E. coli and S. Newport (CFU/worm) in untreated and treated worms were determined by sonicating worms in 0.1% peptone and surface plating suspensions of released cells on tryptic soy agar containing nalidixic acid. Populations of S. Newport in worms exposed to 33 or 75% relative humidity at 4°C or 33% relative humidity at 20°C were significantly (P £ 0.05) lower than the number surviving exposure to higher relative humidities at respective temperatures. In general, treatment of worms with cleaners and sanitizers was effective in significantly (P £ 0.05) reducing the population of S. Newport in desiccated worms. Results indicate that temperature and relative humidity influence S. Newport survival in the gut of C. elegans but cleaners and sanitizers may not eliminate the pathogen from desiccated worms.