Quantitative Evaluation of Three Selective Enrichment Broths and Agars Used in Recovering Listeria Microorganisms

Three selective enrichment broths (FDA, University of Vermont and Dominguez Rodriguez) and lithium chloride-phenylethanol-moxolactam (LPM) agar, modified McBride (MMA) agar, Listeria selective agar (LSAM of Dominguez-Rodriguez), and Brain Heart Infusion (BHI) agar (as reference) were evaluated for their suitability to support the growth of six different species/strains of Listeria ( Listeria monocytogenes Scott A, L. monocytogenes V7, L. monocytogenes VPH-1, Listeria innocua , Listeria seeligeri , and Listeria ivanovii ). All Listeria strains grew faster and yielded a higher number of cells in FDA enrichment broth. Based on MPN studies, 1 to 2.1 cells of L. monocytogenes and L. innocua were needed for visible colony formation, on all three selective and BHI agars after 48 h incubation of 37°C. The LPM agar was more inhibitory for L. seeligeri and L. ivanovii requiring 9.6 and 917 cells, respectively, as compared to 1 to 2.7 cells for the other agars. The effectiveness of a particular combination among the selective enrichment broths and agars for recovering L. monocytogenes Scott A from inoculated cheese and meat samples was quantitated. Any enrichment broth combined with plating on LPM or LSAM agar gave 100% Listeria recovery as compared to 50 to 67% for plating on MMA agar. Both LPM and LSAM agars have also shown a superior performance to MMA agar in the recovery of naturally occurring Listeria from soft cheese and raw meat. The use of a secondary broth enrichment step improved the recovery of Listeria spp. from meat samples.