A study of the relative incidence of differentPseudomonasgroups on meat using a computer‐assisted identification technique employing only carbon source tests

摘要

A computer‐assisted probabilistic identification technique employing 18 carbon source utilization tests has been developed and applied to 787Pseudomonasstrains isolated from beef, pork and lamb stored under aerobic conditions. Seven hundred and twelve (89.7) were identified using these tests alone and a further six (0.8) with extra tests. Taxa detected werePs. fragicluster 2, 390 strains (49.6 of all isolates);Ps. fragicluster 1, 191 strains (24.9); meat cluster 3, 87 strains (11.1);Ps. fluorescensbiotype I, 31 strains (3.9);Ps. fluorescensbiotype III, 7 strains (0.9); andPs. putida, 1 strain (0.1). The relative incidence of members of the various taxa was similar on beef, pork and lamb, and was unaffected by storage temperature in the range 0°–10°C. Each taxon was also detected at similar rates before and after spoilage. Meat origin (abattoir) affected the frequency of detection of meat cluster 3 andPs. fluorescensbiotype I strains but did not affect the incidence of detection of either cluster ofPs.