Acta Vet. Brno 2008, 77: 143-147

https://doi.org/10.2754/avb200877010143

Synthetic Culture Media Evaluated for the Detection of Coliform Bacteria in Milk, Cheese and Egg Melange

G. Szita1, B. Gyetvai2, J. Szita3, M. Gyenes4, N. Solymos5, L. Soos5, A. Hajos4, P. Toth6, S. Bernáth4

1Department of Food Hygiene, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Szent Istvan University, Budapest, Hungary
2Food and Feed Safety Directorate of Central Agricultural Office, Budapest, Hungary
3National Institute of Traumatology and Emergency Medicine, Budapest, Hungary
4Institute for Veterinary Medicinal Products, Budapest, Hungary
5Experimental Institute of Veterinary Science, Szent Istvan University, Budapest, Hungary
6Large Animal Clinic, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Szent Istvan University, Hungary

Received November 28, 2006
Accepted December 19, 2007

Simple synthetic culture media of liquid and solid form (X broth and X agar) were tested for selective isolation of coliform bacteria. Selectivity is based on the ability of coliform bacteria to grow when the minimal medium contains simple inorganic substances as nitrogen and carbon supply. Selectivity of the media was tested by inoculation of pure cultures of different microbes belonging to the genera of Staphylococcus, Bacillus and Pseudomonas and the family Enterobacteriaceae and was found to be complete in this range. The comparative investigation of milk, camembert cheese and egg melange samples in the traditional and new media proved good applicability of X broth and X agar for an effective and selective detection of coliform bacteria. When testing pasteurized milk samples, X agar detected coliforms in significantly higher counts than violet red-bile-lactose agar.

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