Comparison of Muller‐Kauffmann tetrathionate broth with Rappaport‐Vassiliadis (RV) medium for the isolation of salmonellas from sewage sludge

Abstract

The Rappaport-Vassiliadis (RV, modification of Rappaport's) medium was superior to Muller-Kauffmann tetrathionate broth (MKT) for the enrichment and isolation of salmonellas from sewage sludge samples, either naturally contaminated or artificially inoculated with salmonella. Isolation rates for RV (42 degrees C) were higher even when MKT (43 degrees C) performance was improved by the use of brilliant green sul-phamandelate agar. Kinetic results show that the suppression of the competing flora was poorer in MKT than in RV. The use of high inoculum to medium volume ratios (e.g. 1:5000) increased the isolation rates from RV and kinetic data explain why this was so.