Location: Poultry Microbiological Safety Research
Title: Aerobic growth of campylobacter in media supplemented with glutamic, lactic, and/or fumaric acids Author
Submitted to: Annual Meeting of the Institute of Food Technologists
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: February 22, 2012
Publication Date: June 26, 2012
Citation: Hinton Jr, A. 2012. Aerobic growth of campylobacter in media supplemented with glutamic, lactic, and/or fumaric acids. Annual Meeting of the Institute of Food Technologists [abstract]. Technical Abstract: Campylobacter spp. are major causes of human foodborne illnesses, and the pathogen is widely associated with live poultry and processed poultry products. These bacteria are classified as obligate 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 glutamic, lactic, and/or fumaric acids. Final media pH was 6.5 to 6.9. 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 at 600 nm, 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 glutamic 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 glutamic, lactic, and fumaric acids. Findings of this study indicate that these Campylobacter spp. can be cultured aerobically in media supplemented with some organic acids.