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One hundred and twenty-two food, clinical, and veterinary strains of Listeria monocytogenes were examined for the presence of plasmids. Twenty-five (20%) contained plasmids, which varied from 1.3 to 66 MDa in size. Of 10 strains of other Listeria species (L. innocua, L. ivanovii, L. welshimeri, L. seeligeri, L. grayi, and L. murrayi) examined, seven (70%) contained plasmids, varying from 38 to 53 MDa. No strains with multiple plasmids were found. Plasmids of identical size were isolated from related strains in some, although not all, cases. The presence of a plasmid in a strain was not related to phenotypic characters of known extrachromosomal inheritance.

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The individual sugars and anthocyanidins in processing-grade 'Dawson' and 'Bing' cherries and cherry products were investigated in order to assess the quality of the processed fruit. Glucose, fructose, and relatively high levels of sorbitol were found in fresh and frozen cherries of both cultivars. During glaceing, sucrose was predictably absorbed by the fruit but glucose was preferentially leached into the glaceing syrups. In contrast, sorbitol is preferentially lost during the manufacture of cherry leathers. Cyanidin was the only anthocyanidin detected in both cherry cultivars. 'Dawson' and 'Bing' frozen cherries contained cyanidin levels of 76 mg/100 g and 74 mg/100 g wet weight of fruit flesh respectively. Processing the cherries to give glace cherries and cherry leathers reduced the cyanidin contents by 9 to 30%. The reduction in cyanidin due to processing was organoleptically acceptable.

Fecal suspensions and anaerobic fecal cultures prepared from adult chicken feces and administered by gavage into the crop or via drinking water were compared for their ability to protect newly hatched chickens against Salmonella infection. Good protection (decreased infection by ≥ 90%) was obtained with as little as 10−4 g of feces or 10−2 ml of a fourth serial fecal subculture. The two methods of administration were equally effective. Treatment of chicks with serially passaged fecal cultures via drinking water may provide adequate protection at a minimum cost, and with a low probability of transmitting viral or parasitic agents.