Sensitization of Clostridium perfringens spores to heat by gamma radiation

Abstract

Spores of Clostridium perfringens, type A, were given separate or sequential treatments of gamma radiation (0 to 0.7 Mrad) and/or high temperature (93 to 103 degrees C). Prior heating, sufficient to inactivate 40 to 99% of the viable spores, had no effect on the subsequent radiation inactivation rate. Prior irradiation had a sensitizing effect on subsequently heated spores. The degree of sensitization to heat, as measured by thermal inactivation rate, increased with increased radiation pretreatment dose.