EVALUATION OF INHIBITORY POTENTIAL OF ANTIMICROBIAL SUBSTANCES AND QUATERNARY AMMONIA IN DISINFECTION OF COMMERCIAL EGGS EXPERIMENTALLY CONTAMINATED WITH Salmonella enterica SEROVAR ENTERITIDIS

Abstract

The present work aimed to evaluate the inhibitory potential of antimicrobial substances produced by Lactobacillus reuteri and quaternary ammonia in disinfection of shell surfaces of eggs available for consumption that were experimentally contaminated with Salmonella enterica serovar Enteritidis (SE). A total of 40 eggs, obtained commercially, were contaminated individually by aspersion with 3mL of SE culture, containing 1.5 x 10⁶ colony forming units (CFU)/mL. Subsequently, the eggs were stored at a temperature of 26ºC for 24 hours for drying and fixation of SE on eggshells. The treatments with phosphate buffered saline solution (PBS), quaternary ammonia and antimicrobial substances produced by Lactobacillus reuteri were sprinkled at the volume of 5mL on each egg. Each egg was submitted to bacterial count by series dilution, 24 hours after experimental contamination and also 30 minutes after the treatments. The group treated with quaternary ammonia presented the lowest SE bacterial count on eggshells after treatment, with CFU reduction of 92%, thus showing more efficiency compared to treatment with antimicrobial substances, where 71.6% diminution of bacterial count was observed. The inhibitory potential of antimicrobial substances produced by Lactobacillus reuteri was significant in SE reduction on eggshell surfaces, but treatment with quaternary ammonia was demonstrated to be more effective.