title: Use of the Malthus conductance growth analyser to determine numbers of thermophilic streptococci on stainless steel.
abstract: The use of the Malthus conductance growth analyser for the detection of Streptococcus bovis attached to stainless steel surface was evaluated. A comparison between the results from acridine orange epifluorescence direct counts, swab recovery viable count and conductance estimates of attached cell concentrations, based on calibrations for planktonic cells, showed that the conductance results were up to 2 log10 greater than the epifluorescence results and the swab counts. The growth rates of planktonic and attached cells were similar over 16 h using the Malthus technique. This suggests that the Malthus technique detects more attached cells of Strep. bovis than epifluorescence microscopy or swab recovery.
authors.affiliation: Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand.
authors.forename: S H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Flint
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Brooks
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Bremer
mesh_terms: D000165:Acridine Orange / Q000737:chemistry; D001431:Bacteriological Techniques; D018441:Biofilms / Q000254:growth & development; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes / Q000737:chemistry; D013193:Stainless Steel; D016985:Streptococcus bovis / Q000254:growth & development / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D013193:Stainless Steel; D000165:Acridine Orange