Radiation Sensitivity ofListeria monocytogeneson Beef as Affected by Temperature

摘要

ABSTRACTLongissimus dorsi from beef was inoculated withListeria monocytogenesand the effect of gamma irradiation on the survival of this pathogen at −60 to +15°C was determined. Radiation D‐values were determined for inactivation ofL. monocytogenesat 5°C intervals from −20 to 5°C. These data were used to develop an equation to predict the response to gamma radiation within that range. An abrupt increase in resistance occurred at −5°C. The radiation D‐value was 0.45 kGy at 0°C, 0.77 kGy at −5°C and 1.21 kGy at −20°C. A straight line was obtained when the log10of the D‐values from −5 to −20°C was plotted vs the reciprocal of the absolute temperature. This led us to calculate a value analogous to the Arrhenius activation energy for inactivation ofL. mono