Evaluation of the BAX system for detection of Listeria monocytogenes in foods: collaborative study.

A multilaboratory study was conducted to compare the automated BAX system and the standard cultural methods for detection of Listeria monocytogenes in foods. Six food types (frankfurters, soft cheese, smoked salmon, raw, ground beef, fresh radishes, and frozen peas) were analyzed by each method. For each food type, 3 inoculation levels were tested: high (average of 2 CFU/g), low (average of 0.2 CFU/g) and uninoculated controls. A total of 25 laboratories representing government and industry participated. Of the 2335 samples analyzed, 1109 were positive by the BAX system and 1115 were positive by the standard method. A Chi square analysis of each of the 6 food types, at the 3 inoculation levels tested, was performed. For all foods, except radishes, the BAX system performed as well as or better than the standard reference methods based on the Chi square results.

Comparison of the mouse bioassay and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay procedures for the detection of type A botulinal toxin in food.

Samples of chili linked to a foodborne illness outbreak of type A botulism were examined for preformed type A botulinal toxin using two enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) procedures and the mouse bioassay. One of the samples was positive for type A botulinal toxin and three of the samples were negative for type A, B, E, and F botulinal toxins using the three methods. The mouse bioassay indicated that type A toxin was present at the 10,000 minimal lethal dose per gram (MLD per g) of product. The ELISA tests indicated a toxicity of 7,650 MLD per g with one method and 8,350 MLD per g with the other method. The sample toxicity determined by the ELISA was estimated by comparing samples to a standard curve generated with standard type A neurotoxin in casein buffer. The ELISA methods are more rapid than the mouse bioassay, since the toxin type can be determined in 1 day. The mouse bioassay is more sensitive than the ELISA but usually requires multiple assays to obtain the toxin type and toxicity. Type A culture isolates from the sample were also verified using one ELISA method.

Detection of preformed type A botulinal toxin in hash brown potatoes by using the mouse bioasssay and a modified ELISA test.

A foodborne illness caused by type A toxin-producing Clostridium botulinum was investigated by using the standard mouse bioassay and a rapid invitro test for toxin detection. The patient, who consumed improperly stored hash brown potatoes that contained the preformed toxin, was diagnosed with type A botulism. C. botulinum type A toxin was detected in the hash brown potatoes as well as in the tryptone-peptone-glucose-yeast extract (TPGY) medium subcultures of this food using the mouse bioassay and an amplified ELISA technique. The mouse bioassay revealed preformed toxin at 10,000 minimum lethal dose (MLD)/g uncooked product and the amplified ELISA an equivalent 50,000 MLD/g. The cultural toxin from the uncooked product killed mice at the 10(6) dilution and a modification of the ELISA procedure was positive at the 10(3) dilution. Cooked food obtained from the consumer's waste can contained 100 MLD/g and the ELISA was also positive at the same dilution of the product. The culture of the cooked product obtained from the waste can was lethal for mice at the 10(7) dilution and positive using the modified ELISA at the 10(4) dilution. The unmodified amplified ELISA method indicated a toxin level of approximately 1 ng/mL (equivalent to 5 x 10(5) MLD/mL) in diluted culture fluid from the uncooked food and the culture of cooked food obtained from the waste can. The hash brown potatoes were negative for types B, E, and F preformed and cultural botulinal toxins using both assays.

Enhancement of mammary carcinogenesis by high levels of dietary fat: a phenomenon dependent on ad libitum feeding.

Female 55-day-old Sprague-Dawley rats were treated with a single intravenous dose of 7,12-dimethylbenzanthracene (DMBA), 2 mg/100 g of body weight each. At 60 days of age, the rats were divided into four dietary groups (41-42 rats/group):I, 5% corn oil diet fed ad libitum; II, 20% corn oil diet fed ad libitum; III, 5% corn oil diet fed 12% less than group I; and IV, 20% corn oil diet fed 12% less than group II. The 5% and 20% corn oil diets were purified semisynthetic diets that were isonutrient on a caloric basis. All animals were housed individually in single cages; food consumption of each animal was computed daily throughout the study. Sixteen weeks after carcinogen treatment, mean numbers of mammary carcinomas per rat (+/- SE) in groups I, II, III, and IV were 4.1 +/- 0.6, 6.8 +/- 0.7, 3.0 +/- 0.3, and 4.1 +/- 0.5, respectively. Mean weight of mammary carcinomas per rat (g +/- SE) in groups I, II, III, and IV were 3.5 +/- 0.7, 8.0 +/- 1.3, 3.0 +/- 1.1, and 4.6 +/- 1.3, respectively. Mammary carcinoma number and weight were significantly (P less than .01) increased in the animals fed the 20% corn oil diet ad libitum when compared with those fed the 5% corn oil diet ad libitum; however, no significant differences in mammary tumor number or weight were observed between the animals fed a restricted, 20% corn oil diet and those fed a restricted, 5% corn oil diet. The study involving the animals fed the 12%-restricted diets was repeated (38-42 rats/group), with virtually identical results, i.e., the mean number of mammary carcinomas per rat in the groups fed the restricted 5% fat and 20% fat diets at termination of the study was 3.1 +/- 0.4 and 3.7 +/- 0.3, respectively, and the mean weight (g) of mammary carcinomas per rat was 4.3 +/- 1.2 and 4.0 +/- 1.1, respectively (no significant differences). Thus, high levels of dietary fat can significantly enhance mammary carcinogenesis in female rats, but only in animals on an ad libitum feeding protocol. A slight restriction in amount consumed (12% less than ad libitum) abolished the mammary carcinogenic differential between a high-fat and a low-fat diet.