The attachment of Salmonella choleraesuis subsp. choleraesuis ATCC 15790 to beef muscle and adipose tissues was investigated. S. choleraesuis was found to adhere in higher numbers to muscle than to fat. The charge and the hydrophobicity of the surface of S. choleraesuis were evaluated by measurement of electrophoretic mobility, the contact angle with water, adhesion to hexadecane, and hydrophobic interaction chromatography. The overall negative charge of S. choleraesuis was masked by the high electrolyte concentration in the attachment medium (0.15 M phosphate-buffered saline). This bacterium was shown to possess a hydrophilic surface. Electrostatic interactions do not affect the attachment of S. choleraesuis to both lean and fat tissue, and there was no evidence for a role of hydrophobic interactions. However, the attachment of S. choleraesuis was reduced by 90% after mechanical removal of the flagella or after treatment of the bacteria with specific antiflagella serum. This reduction was attributed to a...