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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Athens, Georgia » U.S. National Poultry Research Center » Poultry Microbiological Safety and Processing Research Unit » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #277107
Title: Aerobic growth of campylobacter in media supplemented with a-ketoglutaric, lactic, and/or fumaric acids

Author
item Hinton Jr, Arthur

Submitted to: World's Poultry Science Journal
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/5/2012
Publication Date: 8/5/2012
Citation: Hinton Jr, A. 2012. Aerobic growth of campylobacter in media supplemented with a-ketoglutaric, lactic, and/or fumaric acids. World's Poultry Science Journal. 68(1):256-258.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Campylobacter spp. are major causes of human foodborne illnesses, and the pathogen is widely associated with live and processed poultry. These bacteria are classified as microaerophiles and are generally cultured under atmospheres with reduced oxygen and elevated carbon dioxide concentrations. Although Campylobacter cannot utilize carbohydrates, the bacteria can metabolize some organic acids and amino acids. The objective of this study was to examine the ability of Campylobacter spp. to grow aerobically in media supplemented with selected organic acids. Basal broth media composed of tryptose, yeast extract, and a mineral-vitamin solution was supplemented a-ketoglutaric, lactic, and/or fumaric acids. Final media pH was 6.5. Media was inoculated with approximately 106 colony-forming-units/ml of Campylobacter coli, Campylobacter fetus, or Campylobacter jejuni. Inoculated media was incubated aerobically at 37C for 72 h in a Bioscreen C microbiology reader, optical density (OD) of cultures was measured, and statistical analysis of final culture OD was performed. Results indicated that there was no significant (P < 0.05) growth of either isolate in non-supplemented media or media supplemented with a-ketoglutaric acid, only. In contrast, there was significant growth of C. fetus in media supplemented with lactic acid only, and significant growth of C. coli and C. fetus media supplemented with fumaric acid only. However, greatest growth of each isolate was produced in media supplemented with a mixture of fumaric and lactic acids or a mixture of a-ketoglutaric, lactic, and fumaric acids. Findings of this study indicate that Campylobacter spp. can grow aerobically in media supplemented with some organic acids.