Inactivation of Shigella boydii 18 IDPH and Listeria monocytogenes Scott A with power ultrasound at different acoustic energy densities and temperatures

The effect of acoustic energy density (AED) on inactivation of Shigella boydii 18 IDPH and Listeria monocytogenes Scott A in a cell suspension was studied at sublethal temperatures and at AEDs of 0.49, 0.85, and 1.43 W/mL. The effect of temperature on ultrasonic inactivation of L. monocytogenes Scott A at 35, 50, and 65 °C was examined at an AED of 1.43 W/mL. Increasing AED increased the rate of inactivation for both S. boydii and L. monocytogenes. The destruction of S. boydii and L. monocytogenes followed 1st order kinetics in a 20-min treatment, except for S. boydii inactivation at 1.43 W/mL where a tailing effect was observed after 15 min. At sublethal temperatures, the D-values of S. boydii were 8.8, 4.3, and 2.5 min for AEDs of 0.49, 0.85, and 1.43 W/mL, whereas those for L. monocytogenes at the 3 AED levels were 31.5, 13.5, and 7.3 min, respectively. Ultrasonic treatment of L. monocytogenes at 35 and 50 °C enhanced inactivation. However, at 65 °C, application of ultrasound did not result in additional inactivation compared to thermal treatment alone at the same temperature. With the experimental conditions and the ultrasound system used in this study, an upper temperature limit for thermosonication was evident above which no added killing due to ultrasound was observed.