Anti-Salmonella Polyclonal antibody

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) conducted a sampling assignment in 2014 to ascertain the prevalence of Cronobacter spp. and Salmonella in the processing environment of facilities manufacturing milk powder. Cronobacter was detected in the environment of 38 (69%) of 55 facilities. The average prevalence of Cronobacter in 5,671 subsamples (i.e., swabs and sponges from different facility locations) was 4.4%. In the 38 facilities where Cronobacter was detected, the average prevalence of positive environmental subsamples was 6.25%. In 20 facilities where zone information of the sampling location was complete, Cronobacter was most frequently detected in zone 4, followed by zone 3, then zone 2, with zone 1 yielding the lowest percentage of positive samples. The prevalence of Cronobacter across the zones was statistically different (P < 0.05). There was no significant association between product type (i.e., lactose, whey products, buttermilk powder, and nonfat dried milk) and prevalence of Cronobacter in the facility. Salmonella was detected in the environment of three (5.5%) of the 55 facilities; all three facilities produced dried whey product. The overall prevalence of Salmonella in 5,714 subsamples was 0.16%. In facilities in which Salmonella was detected, the average prevalence was 2.5%. Salmonella was most frequently detected in zone 4, followed by zone 3. Salmonella was not detected in zone 1 or zone 2. The disparity between Salmonella and Cronobacter prevalence indicates that additional measures may be required to reduce or eliminate Cronobacter from the processing environment.

This study investigated the antimicrobial activities of organic acid vapors against a phytopathogen (Acidovorax citrulli) and foodborne pathogens (Salmonella enterica, Escherichia coli O157:H7, and Listeria monocytogenes) on the surface of Cucurbitaceae seeds. Germination percentages of cucumber, honeydew melon and watermelon seeds treated with acetic and propionic acid vapors (100 mg/L) at 50 degrees C and 43% or 85% relative humidity (RH) for up to 2 h did not significantly (P > 0.05) decrease. Treatment with formic acid significantly (P <= 0.05) decreased the germination percentage. The antimicrobial activities of acetic and propionic acid vapors (100 mg/L; 50 degrees C; 43% or 85% RH) were determined. A. citrulli was inactivated within 1 h on cucumber and watermelon seeds, regardless of type of organic acid or RH. The phytopathogen was reduced to levels below the detection limit (-0.5 log CFU/g) for enrichment on honeydew melon seeds treated with acetic acid vapor. S. enterica and L. monocytogenes were inactivated within 2 h at 85% RH on honeydew melon and watermelon seeds treated with acetic acid and propionic acid vapors. E. coli O157: H7 was inactivated by treatment with acetic acid vapor at 85% RH. This study provides useful information for developing a method to decontaminate Curcurbitaceae seeds using organic acid vapors as lethal agents.