A numerical taxonomic study of the Pseudomonas flora isolated from poultry meat.
Pseudomonas strains were isolated from both fresh and cold-stored broiler skin. Phenotypically-based numerical taxonomic techniques were used to characterize the isolates and 36 reference strains. For this purpose, Biolog GN Microplates, API 20NE and a number of other biochemical tests were used. Jaccard clustering revealed the predominance of four major Pseudomonas groups: Ps. fragi, Ps. lundensis, strains belonging to Ps. fluorescens biovars and an unidentified group of strains displaying a high degree of similarity to Ps. fluorescens biovars. Within Ps. fluorescens, biovar A was best represented. The marked proteolytic character of members of Ps. fluorescens biovars A, B and C, as well as of members of the unidentified cluster, supports their possible role in the origin of organoleptic defects. In the Ps. lundensis cluster, a distinct group of Ps. lundensis-like species was found. Further genotypic studies should be carried out to clarify the taxonomic status of the Ps. lundensis-like strains and that of the unidentified group resembling Ps. fluorescens biovars A and B.
Arnaut-Rollier
I
I
University of Gent, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Veterinary Food Inspection, Merelbeke, Belgium. isabelle.rollier@rug.ac.be
Vauterin
L
L
De Vos
P
P
Massart
D L
DL
Devriese
L A
LA
De Zutter
L
L
Van Hoof
J
J
D000818:Animals; D015373:Bacterial Typing Techniques; D002645:Chickens / Q000382:microbiology*; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D008460:Meat / Q000382:microbiology*; D010641:Phenotype; D011549:Pseudomonas / Q000145:classification* / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000502:physiology; D011551:Pseudomonas fluorescens / Q000145:classification / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000502:physiology