Listeria monocytogenes isolation from human faecal specimens: experiments with the selective media, PALCAM and L-PALCAMY.

The selective media PALCAM and L-PALCAMY were evaluated for their potential ability to detect Listeria monocytogenes in faeces. Recovery on PALCAM was almost total, and similar at 30 degrees C and 35 degrees C with or without CO2 incubation. Warm enrichment in L-PALCAMY was necessary in order to detect low numbers (< 10(2)/ml faeces). Faeces in excess of 0.25 ml/10 ml L-PALCAMY was inhibitory. The results point to L-PALCAMY and PALCAM as an epidemiological tool.