Use of antibody-coated cellulose sponges for enhanced isolation of salmonella.

One thousand, four hundred and fifty-one naturally contaminated samples from pig, poultry and cattle farms, poultry hatcheries and animal feed mills were examined in a trial in which transfer of small portions of cellulose sponge coated with salmonella somatic polyvalent antiserum was compared with transfer of standard liquid inocula from pre-enrichment to selective enrichment culture. Salmonella was found in 281 (19.4%) of the samples using the standard method, compared with 385 (26.5%) using the sponge method. It was therefore concluded that antibody-coated cellulose sponges could be a simple means of increasing the recovery of salmonellas from pre-enrichment broths and thereby enhancing the test sensitivity.