title: Comparison of methods for the enumeration of Clostridium perfringens spores in water.
abstract: Four methods for enumerating Clostridium perfringens spores in water were evaluated: (1) the IMM (Iron Milk Medium) method (MPN); (2) the LS (Lactose Sulfite Broth) method (MPN); (3) the m-CP (membrane filtration Clostridium perfringens Agar) method (membrane filtration); and (4) the TSC (Tryptose Sulfite Cycloserine Agar) method (membrane filtration). The performance of these methods was compared with that of the DRCM (Differential Reinforced Clostridium Medium) method (MPN) as adopted by CETESB (Brazil's Environmental Sanitation Technology Company) for the analysis of C. perfringens spores in water. Statistical analysis was performed according to ISO 17994:2004 (Water Quality - Criteria for Establishing Equivalence between Microbiological Methods). The LS, m-CP, and TSC methods were considered not equivalent to the DRCM method, as they gave significantly lower results. The IMM showed inconclusive results and, according to ISO 17994:2004, analysis of a greater number of samples is needed to draw definitive conclusions comparing IMM and DRCM.
authors.affiliation: Food Technology Institute, ITAL. Avenida Brasil, Jardim Chapadão, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Valéria Christina Amstalden
authors.initials: VC
authors.lastname: Junqueira
authors.forename: Romeu Cantúsio
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Neto
authors.forename: Neusely
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: da Silva
authors.forename: Juliana Hirata
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Terra
mesh_terms: D000135:Acid Phosphatase / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D003016:Clostridium perfringens / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000378:metabolism; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D005285:Fermentation; D005374:Filtration; D007501:Iron / Q000378:metabolism; D007785:Lactose / Q000378:metabolism; D008892:Milk / Q000378:metabolism; D013171:Spores, Bacterial / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D013395:Sucrose / Q000378:metabolism; D013447:Sulfites / Q000378:metabolism; D014873:Water Pollutants / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D001617:beta-Glucosidase / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D013447:Sulfites; D014873:Water Pollutants; D013395:Sucrose; D007501:Iron; D000135:Acid Phosphatase; D001617:beta-Glucosidase; D007785:Lactose