Lakhasly

The contamination of enterotoxigenic Clostridium perfringens spores on food contact surfaces posses
a serious concern to food industry due to their high resistance to various preservation methods typically
applied to control foodborne pathogens.In this study, we aimed to develop an strategy to inactivate
C. perfringens spores on stainless steel (SS) surfaces by inducing spore germination and killing of germinated
spores with commonly used disinfectants.Collectively, our current results showed that triggering spore germination considerably
increased sporicidal activity of the commonly used disinfectants against C. perfringens FP spores attached
to SS chips.Consequently, the incorporation of AK-induced germination step prior to
decontamination of SS chips with disinfectants significantly (p < 0.05) inactivated the spores of FP
isolates.

The contamination of enterotoxigenic Clostridium perfringens spores on food contact surfaces posses
a serious concern to food industry due to their high resistance to various preservation methods typically
applied to control foodborne pathogens. In this study, we aimed to develop an strategy to inactivate
C. perfringens spores on stainless steel (SS) surfaces by inducing spore germination and killing of germinated
spores with commonly used disinfectants. The mixture of L-Asparagine and KCl (AK) induced
maximum spore germination for all tested C. perfringens food poisoning (FP) and non-foodborne (NFB)
isolates. Incubation temperature had a major impact on C. perfringens spore germination, with 40
C
induced higher germination than room temperature (RT) (20  2
C). In spore suspension, the implementation
of AK-induced germination step prior to treatment with disinfectants significantly (p < 0.05)
enhanced the inactivation of spores of FP strain SM101. However, under similar conditions, no significant
spore inactivation was observed with NFB strain NB16. Interestingly, while the spores of FP isolates were
able to germinate with AK upon their adhesion to SS chips, no significant germination was observed with
spores of NFB isolates. Consequently, the incorporation of AK-induced germination step prior to
decontamination of SS chips with disinfectants significantly (p < 0.05) inactivated the spores of FP
isolates. Collectively, our current results showed that triggering spore germination considerably
increased sporicidal activity of the commonly used disinfectants against C. perfringens FP spores attached
to SS chips. These findings should help in developing an effective strategy to inactivate C. perfringens
spores adhered to food contact surfaces.