Evaluation of microbial ecology on the presence of Listeria monocytogenes and Salmonella sp. in food processing industries, the formation of multispecies biofilms and control methods

Abstract

Brazil occupies ample space in the world food scene, the expansion of these markets, allied to the export rates, makes sanitary conditions essential to guarantee food safety and commercial stability. Among the factors that affect food safety, pathogenic microorganisms deserve to be highlighted, as they are related to the occurrence of diseases. Listeria monocytogenes and Salmonella sp. are ubiquitous, and are therefore found in numerous animal products and surfaces of equipment and utensils for industrial use. Such characteristics may be related to the ability to adhere and form biofilms on biotic or abiotic surfaces, which gives bacterial cells protection, adaptability and resistance to technological processes. Thus, understanding the Microbial Ecology associated with the presence of L. monocytogenes and Salmonella sp. isolated after the pre-operational hygiene programs of the industries, allows the diagnosis of the same ecological niches of survival, and the knowledge of the accompanying Microbial Ecology allows to show if there is synergism, competition, antagonism or non-interference in the development of one species due to another. As well, through the dynamics of adhesion and formation of biofilms in vitro, it is possible to understand the participation of accompanying Microbial Ecology in the survival of pathogenic microorganisms and, with this, validate tests for prevention and elimination of biofilms with greater accuracy. (AU)