The Effect of 2 Hepta-5-Methylbenzimidazole and Hydrochloric Acid on the. Growth of Microflora Found on Poultry Carcasses

Vaughn and Stewart (1960) have reported a number of difficulties in the use of antibiotics to preserve poultry meat. A possible approach to overcoming some of the limitations of antibiotics in inhibiting resistant strains of bacteria, yeasts, and molds would be to select an inhibitor to supplement the action of the antibiotics. One group of compounds, the benzimidazoles, merits further investigation for this use. Benzimidazoles and the homologues of benzimidazole inhibit the growth of some viruses, bacteria, yeasts, fungi and protozoa. Wolley (1944) reported that benzimidazole inhibited the growth of Sacckaromyces cerevesiae and Endomyces veneralis and the bacteria Escherichia coli and Streptococcus lactis and in later work (1950 (1951) Lactobacillus lactis, L. Leichmannii and Euglena gracilis. Other workers have shown that benzimidazoles also inhibit other microorganisms and the multiplication of some viruses. Preservation of poultry carcasses by immersion in acid also offers possibilities. Heather and Vanderzant (1957) in work with…