Effect of polyethylene glycol coating on Salmonella enteritidis in artificially contaminated eggs

Abstract

This experimental infection study focuses on a specific Salmonella micro-organism commonly found inside hens' eggs. It outlines the application of polyethylene glycol-based films on hens' eggs and microbial growth introduced via transovarian contamination. Three molecular weights of polyethylene glycol ( PEG) were studied: ranging from 1000 g/mol to 3000 g/mol. PEG coating ratios averaged a PEG film thickness of 0.014 +/- 0.006 mm and average eggshell thickness was 0.32 +/- 0.022 mm. The effects of molecular weight of PEG coating and storage time on the growth of Salmonella enteritidis of PEG-coated eggs were evaluated during 30 days of incubation in 37 degrees C storage. The initial concentration of 8 log(10) CFU/mL was achieved by inoculation. The lowest level of S. enteritidis at the end of 30-day incubation period was 5.07 +/- 0.03 log(10) CFU/mL, giving an inhibition efficiency of 33.83%. This level was achieved with a PEG coating of 1.0449 +/- 0.005 density and 0.02 +/- 0.01 film thickness.