Rapid Cultural Methods for Detection of Salmonella in Feeds and Feed Ingredients

Efficacy of standard, 6-h standard and direct enrichment methods for detection of Salmonella in naturally contaminated feeds and feed ingredients was compared. Analysis by the standard method involved preenrichment of feed slurries in nutrient broth, selective enrichment in tetrathionate brilliant green (43°C) and selenite cystine (35°C), and isolation of presumptive isolates on bismuth sulfite and brilliant green sulfa agar media. Sample analysis by the 6-h standard method was identical to the above except that incubation of enrichment broths was reduced to 6 h; for direct enrichment. preenrichment in nutrient broth was omitted. Of 287 samples tested, 75 were found to contain salmonellae by the three methods combined. Ability of the standard and 6-h standard methods to identify the same 58 contaminated samples underlines the reliability of the 6-h standard method for the more rapid detection of Salmonella in animal feeds. Identification of 68 positive samples by direct enrichment presumably resulted from equilibration (3 to 4 h) of feed slurries at reduced water activity before analysis. Addition of novobiocin (40 μg/ml) to selective enrichment broths did not facilitate isolation of Salmonella through repression of competitive flora. Productivity of the six enrichment-plating combinations used in this study was comparable, and no single medium played a determinant role in recovery.