High prevalence of non-faecalis and non-faeciumEnterococcus spp. in farmstead cheesehouse and their applicability as hygiene indicators. (May 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Kim, Se-Hyung; Kim, Dong-Hyeon; Lim, Hyun-Woo; Seo, Kun-Ho
• Is Part Of: Lebensmittel-Wissenschaft + Technologie =. Volume 126(2020)
• Publication Date: 2020-05
• Subjects: Non-faecalis and non-faecium Enterococcus -- Farmstead cheesemaking -- Hygiene indicator -- Food safety; Food industry and trade -- Periodicals; Food -- Composition -- Periodicals; Microbiology -- Periodicals; Nutrition -- Periodicals; 664.005
• DOI: 10.1016/j.lwt.2020.109271
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0023-6438

Abstract

Abstract: Indicator bacteria reflect the overall microbiological hygiene status in the food industry. Enterococcus species, particularly E . faecalis and E . faecium, are representative hygiene indicators; however, other species have not been thoroughly evaluated for their role as indicators. In the present study, we compared the isolation rates between E. faecalis/faecium (EF) and non- faecalis/faecium Enterococcus spp. (NFE) in dairy foods and characterized them to evaluate their applicability as alternative hygiene indicators with the prevalence. A total of 39 Enterococcus spp. isolates consisting of 10 EF (25.6%, 9 E. faecalis and E. faecium ) and 29 NFE (74.4%, 11 E . durans, 3 E . gallinarum, and 15 E . hirae ) were isolated from 75 dairy samples in a farmstead cheesehouse in South Korea. Biochemical diversities among isolates demonstrated that various isolates were contaminated at each cheesemaking step. Thirty-four out of 39 isolates exhibited antibiotic resistance to at least one antibiotic and 4 NFE isolates harbored at least one virulence gene. In conclusion, despite their scarce evidence of virulence, NFE may be alternative hygiene indicators given their high prevalence in dairy samples. Highlights: Prevalence of non- faecalis and non- faecium Enterococcus species was higher. E. durans was predominant in dairy food. Non- faecalis and non- faecium Enterococcus species had antibiotic resistance. Virulence and antibiotic resistance genes were identified.