Adhesion capacity of Salmonella Enteritidis, Escherichia coli and Campylobacter jejuni on polystyrene, stainless steel, and polyethylene surfaces

• Published in: Food microbiology Vol. 114; p. 104280
• Main Authors: Carvalho, Daiane, Chitolina, Gabriela Zottis, Wilsmann, Daiane Elisa, Lucca, Vivian, Dias de Emery, Brunna, Borges, Karen Apellanis, Furian, Thales Quedi, Salle, Carlos Tadeu Pippi, Moraes, Hamilton Luiz de Souza, do Nascimento, Vladimir Pinheiro
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01.09.2023
• Subjects: Bacterial adhesion; Polyethylene; Polystyrene; Poultry; Stainless steel; PBS; Polyethylene; BHI; TSB; TSA; Poultry; BPW; VBNC; Bacterial adhesion; Polystyrene; EFSA; XLD; APEC; CFU; mCCDA; Stainless steel; SEM; EMB; PVC
• ISSN: 0740-0020; 1095-9998
• DOI: 10.1016/j.fm.2023.104280

Poultry products are recognized as the main source of Salmonella and Campylobacter jejuni infections in humans, while avian pathogenic Escherichia coli may have zoonotic potential and can be transmitted from chicken meat to humans. Biofilm formation contributes to their spread through the food chain. This study aimed to compare the adhesion of Salmonella Enteritidis, E. coli, and C. jejuni strains isolated from poultry, food implicated in outbreaks, and poultry slaughterhouses on three surfaces widely used in poultry production (polystyrene, stainless steel, and polyethylene). S. Enteritidis and E. coli adhesion on the three surfaces tested were not significantly different (p > 0.05). Interestingly, the number of C. jejuni cells on stainless steel (4.51–4.67 log10 CFU/cm.−2) was significantly higher (p = 0.0004) than that on polystyrene (3.80–4.25 log10 CFU/cm.−2), but similar (p > 0.05) to that on polyethylene (4.03–4.36 log10 CFU/cm.−2). However, C. jejuni adhesion was significantly lower (p < 0.05) than S. Enteritidis and E. coli adhesion, regardless of the surface evaluated. In addition, scanning electron microscopy analyses have shown an increased irregularity of the stainless steel surface when compared to polyethylene and polystyrene. These irregularities form small spaces ideal for microbial adhesion. •S. Enteritidis and E. coli adhesion were similar on all three surfaces.•A higher number of C. jejuni cells adhered on stainless steel than on polystyrene.•C. jejuni presented a lower number of adhered cells than S. Enteritidis and E. coli.•SEM analyses showed an increased irregularity on stainless steel surface.