Evaluation of motility enrichment on modified semisolid Rappaport-Vassiliadis medium (MSRV) and automated conductance in combination with Rambach agar for Salmonella detection in environmental samples of a milk powder factory.

The efficacy of motility enrichment on modified semisolid Rappaport-Vassiliadis medium (MSRV) and an automated conductance method for the detection of Salmonella in environmental samples was evaluated. Two hundred and ten environmental samples from unrestricted areas of a milk powder factory, 49 of which were artificially contaminated with Salmonella infantis, were examined. From exactly 100 samples Salmonella could be isolated. With the conventional (ISO-DIS 6579) method a 100% score was obtained, whereas the MSRV method gave 82 positive results. The conductance method permitted the detection of Salmonella in only 66 samples. The use of Rambach agar improved isolation efficiency of Salmonella from enrichment broths.