A comparison of media for the isolation of Arcobacter spp. from retail packs of beef.

In order to determine the most effective protocol for the isolation of Arcobacter spp. from retail packs of beef, three published methods (A, B, and C) were selected. In addition, a modified version of method B was studied (method D). The ability of the four methods to isolate Arcobacter from standardized beef samples (n = 80) was compared with presumptive Arcobacter isolates being identified to genus and species level, using multiplex PCR methods. The presence of Arcobacter in enrichment broths was also investigated using PCR techniques. Overall, the modified enrichment and selection media of Johnson and Murano (method D) gave the highest recovery of Arcobacter. Recovery using these media was enhanced by incubating the enrichment and selection media in a microaerobic cabinet rather than air, and the inclusion of streaking the enrichment broth onto selective agar after 24 h in addition to 48 h. Method D yielded significantly more Arcobacter-positive samples of beef (P < 0.01) than did the three other methods investigated.