Avaliação da eficiência do óxido de zinco dopado com prata no controle de biofilmes de Salmonella Heidelberg formados em ovos

Abstract

Salmonella spp. is commonly associated with food from poultry origin, and these are important sources of infection outbreaks in humans. The control of this, and other microorganisms, is a challenge in the production chain, mainly due to the capacity of biofilm formation. In search of new strategies, nanotechnology provides promising materials for the control and prevention of contamination. The objective of this work was to evaluate the efficiency of the silver-doped zinc oxide nanoparticle (ZnO-Ag) on S. heidelberg biofilm control in embryonated eggs from industrial turkey breeders. For this, turkey eggs were placed in medium containing S. Heidelberg which allowed biofilm adhesion in the shell. Some groups had disinfection before and after contact with the bacteria, others had disinfection only after contact. The efficiency of the nanoparticle and peracetic acid in high dosage was evaluated in the prevention and control of S. Heidelberg, as well as the ability of the bacteria to reach albumen and yolk. Electron microscopy was also performed to visualize the biofilms in samples of eggshells exposed to Salmonella Heidelberg. The results showed that silver-doped zinc oxide nanoparticle is a promising alternative for poultry with the potential to reduce microbial load on eggs. However, studies are still needed to ensure the safety of its use as well as to standardize doses and application methodologies.