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Effect of Blood Spots in Table Egg Albumen on Salmonella Growth²

USDA, Agricultural Research Service, Richard B. Russell Research Center, 950 College Station Road, Athens, GA 30605

² Corresponding author: douglas.smith{at}ars.usda.gov

Presence of blood spots in eggs has been correlated with a greater rate of Salmonella Enteritidis contamination. Therefore, this study was conducted to determine whether Salmonella inoculated into egg albumen with naturally occurring blood spots would survive or grow. In each of 3 trials, white shell table eggs with blood spots were collected from a commercial egg-processing plant after candling. In each trial, eggs were broken out, and approximately 4 mL of clear albumen (CLEAR) and 4 mL of bloody albumen (BLOOD) from each of 10 eggs were placed in sterile test tubes and inoculated with a nalidixic acid-resistant Salmonella Typhimurium. For inoculation, 0.1 mL of the Salmonella Typhimurium suspension (containing 7.1, 7.7, or 7.0 log cfu/mL in trials 1 to 3, respectively) was added to each tube. Tube contents were mixed and incubated at 25°C for 24 h. Immediately after inoculation (0 h) and again after 24 h, 0.1 mL from each tube was plated onto Brilliant Green-Sulfa agar with 200 ppm nalidixic acid and incubated at 37°C for 24 h. Results are reported as log colony-forming units per milliliter of albumen. No significant differences (P < 0.05) in mean Salmonella Typhimurium counts were found between CLEAR or BLOOD samples at 0 h (5.6 vs. 5.8, respectively), indicating that initial inoculation levels were consistent between treatments. After 24 h, CLEAR samples were slightly but significantly lower than BLOOD samples for Salmonella Typhimurium (6.5 vs. 6.8, respectively). Salmonella Typhimurium numbers increase somewhat in albumen with or without blood, but slightly greater numbers are produced in albumen with blood spots. In this experiment, blood in the albumen of table eggs contributed to the survival and growth of Salmonella Typhimurium inoculated into egg albumen.

Key Words: table egg • blood spot • Salmonella • albumen

¹ Mention of trade names or commercial products in this article is solely for the purpose of providing specific information and does not imply recommendation or endorsement by the USDA.