Raw and processed foods are vulnerable to contamination during their production, distribution and sale. Thus, a wide variety of chemical preservatives are used in the food industry to prevent the growth of food spoilage and pathogenic bacteria. However, health and economic concerns have led to an intensive search for natural alternatives, such as plant extracts, that can safely be used as substitutes for synthetic antimicrobials and preservatives to partially or completely inhibit the growth of bacteria. This study evaluated the antimicrobial effects of natural phenolic compounds extracted from vegetables, fruits, herbs and spices. The main objective was to determine the lowest concentration of phenolics to inhibit the visible growth of the pathogenic bacteria which is defined as the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC). Some of the most common Gram-positive and Gram-negative foodborne pathogens were treated with several natural phenolic compounds. Concentrations of 5, 10, 15, and 20 ppm (pH 5-6) of each compound were evaluated by broth micro-dilution method and the MICs were determined by using official density (OD) assay. The results demonstrated that the phenolic compounds have varying antimicrobial activities against foodborne pathogens. Natural sources of phenolic compounds contain major antibacterial components and have great potential to be used as natural antimicrobials and food preservatives.

This study was undertaken to compare the MIC (minimum inhibitory concentration) and MPC (mutant prevention concentration) values for oxytetracycline and florfenicol against strains of Pasteurella multocida isolated from cattle and pigs, and for enrofloxacin against strains of Salmonella Typhimurium isolated from horses. Isolates of P. multocida from cattle and pigs, and S. Typhimurium from horses were obtained from specimens or isolates from contributing laboratories. All the equine isolates and 50% of the cattle and pig isolates were from clinically sick animals. All isolates were tested in duplicate with both the MIC and the MPC methods. The MIC method used was the standardized microdilution method performed in microtitre plates. The MPC method used was according to the method described by Blondeau. This method was modified, to make use of smaller plates and lower volumes of antimicrobials, but retaining a final bacterial concentration of 109 colony-forming units per ml. The antimicrobials were dissolved as described in the certificates of analyses. Enrofloxacin and oxytetracycline were dissolved in water, and florfenicol was dissolved in alcohol. For the MPC method, an additional control was added to one quadrant of a four-quadrant 90mm plate/petri dish. The antimicrobials were tested as individual antimicrobials and not as combinations. Both the MIC and MPC methods included ATCC (American Type Culture Collection) strains as control organisms and were evaluated according to the guidelines of the CLSI (Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute). The MIC50 values for enrofloxacin against Salmonella Typhimurium isolates from horses was 0.25 ìg/ml and the MPC50 values 0.5 ìg/ml. A comparative reference range was not available as enrofloxacin is not registered in South Africa for use in horses, and is used extra-labelly. The results for florfenicol against P. multocida yielded an MIC50 value of 0.5 ìg/ml and an MPC50 value of <2 ìg/ml. The close relationship of these two concentrations is an indication of the effectiveness of florfenicol when used against P. multocida. The PD/PK data with a value of 141.78 for AUC/MIC provided additional support for the efficacy of florfenicol against P. multocida. The PD/PK value of >125, is an effective parameter for treatment of Gram-negative bacteria. The corresponding results for oxytetracycline were above the MIC value but fell within the mutant selection window. The results point to the fact that the use of oxytetracycline against P. multocida may not be effective in preventing the appearance of first step mutant strains when used at current recommended dosages. The PK/PD data, using AUC/MIC, yielded a value of 56. Some of the isolates (55.17%) had an MPC value of 16 ìg/ml. Whereas the MIC method is used routinely in diagnostic laboratories, the MPC method can be employed to generate data that can be applied where antimicrobial treatment of certain bacteria is problematic and standard treatment may lead to the development of resistance. Data obtained from such studies will enable manufacturers of antimicrobial drugs to adapt antimicrobial therapy where practical and feasible to prevent the development of first step mutants. / Dissertation (MSc)--University of Pretoria, 2012. / Veterinary Tropical Diseases / unrestricted