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. 2017 Apr 4;61(1):45-51.
doi: 10.1515/jvetres-2017-0006. eCollection 2017 Mar.

Modelling the Growth Rate of Listeria Monocytogenes in Cooked Ham Stored at Different Temperatures

Jacek Szczawiński  1 , Małgorzata Ewa Szczawińska  1 , Adriana Łobacz  2 , Michał Tracz  1 , Agnieszka Jackowska-Tracz  1
Affiliations

Modelling the Growth Rate of Listeria Monocytogenes in Cooked Ham Stored at Different Temperatures

Jacek Szczawiński et al. J Vet Res. .

Abstract

Introduction: The purpose of the study was to determine and model the growth rates of L. monocytogenes in cooked cured ham stored at various temperatures.

Material and methods: Samples of cured ham were artificially contaminated with a mixture of three L. monocytogenes strains and stored at 3, 6, 9, 12, or 15ºC for 16 days. The number of listeriae was determined after 0, 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 9, 12, 14, and 16 days. A series of decimal dilutions were prepared from each sample and plated onto ALOA agar, after which the plates were incubated at 37ºC for 48 h under aerobic conditions. The bacterial counts were logarithmised and analysed statistically. Five repetitions of the experiment were performed.

Results: Both storage temperature and time were found to significantly influence the growth rate of listeriae (P > 0.01). The test bacteria growth curves were fitted to three primary models: the Gompertz, Baranyi, and logistic. The mean square error (MSE) and Akaike's information criterion (AIC) were calculated to evaluate the goodness of fit. It transpired that the logistic model fit the experimental data best. The natural logarithms of L. monocytogenes' mean growth rates from this model were fitted to two secondary models: the square root and polynomial.

Conclusion: Modelling in both secondary types can predict the growth rates of L. monocytogenes in cooked cured ham stored at each studied temperature, but mathematical validation showed the polynomial model to be more accurate.

Keywords: Listeria monocytogenes; ham; predictive modelling; storage.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of Interests Statement: The authors declare that there is no conflict of interests regarding the publication of this article.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Growth of Listeria monocytogenes in cooked ham stored at 3, 6, 9, 12, and 15°C. Raw data from five replicates of the experiment are represented by black squares. Predicted values calculated from the logistic model are represented by the solid line
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
The relationship between storage temperature and growth rate of Listeria monocytogenes in cooked ham. Observed mean values from five replicates fitted into secondary square root model
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
The relationship between storage temperature and growth rate of Listeria monocytogenes in cooked ham. Observed mean values from five replicates fitted into secondary polynomial model
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