Biofilm-producing ability and tolerance to industrial sanitizers in Salmonella spp. isolated from Brazilian poultry processing plants

Abstract

The aims of this study were to analyze the biofilm-producing ability of 98 strains isolated from different surface materials in poultry cutting rooms; to assess the presence of the most important to Salmonella biofilm formation genes adrA and csgD in these strains; and to evaluate the tolerance biofilms formed in polypropylene and polyurethane slides to sanitizers commonly used in the industry. Viable cells were removed from the slides soon after treatment with sanitizers, and then submitted to reincubation for a new count. Only one strain was a strong biofilm-producer in polystyrene; 70% of strains were weak, and 29% were moderate producers. Both genes were found in all strains. There were differences in adhesion to polypropylene and polyurethane, and scanning electron microscopy showed that polyurethane surface was more irregular. No viable cells were recovered in polypropylene slides treated with sanitizers; in polyurethane, reduction in viable cell counts soon after sanitizer treatment was enough to consider that sanitizers were efficient. On the other hand, treatment with peracetic acid was not considered efficient. Results of this study should be considered a food safety warning, due to the importance of the biofilmproducing ability both in vitro and in real poultry processing plants.

Antimicrobial Susceptibility and Biofilm Production by Salmonella sp. Strains Isolated from Frozen Poultry Carcasses

“…Ziech et al (2016a) reported that 100% of Salmonella sp. strains isolated in poultry slaughterhouses and processing plants in Brazil were able to produce biofilm.…”

Biofilm formation by Salmonella sp. in the poultry industry: Detection, control and eradication strategies

“…The chemicals currently used in the disinfection processes belong to the following types: acidic compounds, biocides, aldehydebased disinfectants, caustics, chlorine, hydrogen peroxide, iodine, isothiazolinones, ozone, peracetic acid, phenols, biguanides, and surfactants (Simões, Simões, Machado, Pereira, & Vieira, 2006;Bremer, Fillery, & McQuillan, 2006). Ziech et al (2016) reported that treatment with peracetic acid was not considered efficient to eliminate biofilms formed in polypropylene and polyurethane. Recently, Sarjit & Dykes (2017) reported that trisodium phosphate was more effective against biofilms than sodium hypochlorite and has strong potential as a sanitizer to reduce biofilm formation by Salmonella spp.…”

Salmonella Minnesota Emergence in Poultry Production: Danger to Public Health?

“…Identify genes associated with apoptosis (avrA), oxidative stress (sodC), invasion (invA), adhesion and bio lm (agfA, sefA and lpfA) and quorum sensing (luxS) [15,39,6] helps to characterize the pathogenic potential and to understand the strategies for perpetuation in the environment. At the same time, among the hypotheses that may explain S. Minnesota persistence in the environment, its ability to form bio lms stands out, which hinders its control in the food industry [46]. In this condition microorganisms have different responses to heat treatments, biocides and antimicrobials, and are therefore a constant source of contamination [18,27,40].…”