scholarly journals Factors Impacting the Prevalence of Foodborne Pathogens in Agricultural Water Sources in the Southeastern United States

Water ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 51
Author(s):  
Camila Rodrigues ◽  
Andre Luiz Biscaia Ribeiro da Silva ◽  
Laurel L. Dunn
Keyword(s):  
Foodborne Pathogens ◽  
Pathogenic Bacteria ◽  
Geographical Location ◽  
Water Sources ◽  
Pathogenic Microorganisms ◽  
Vegetable Crops ◽  
Agricultural Water ◽  
Preventive Actions ◽  
Production Water ◽  
Produce Contamination

Surface water poses a great risk to fruit and vegetable crops when contaminated by foodborne pathogens. Several factors impact the microbial quality of surface waters and increase the risk of produce contamination. Therefore, evaluating the factors associated with the prevalence of pathogenic microorganisms in agricultural water sources is critical to determine and establish preventive actions that may minimize the incidence of foodborne outbreaks associated with contaminated production water. In the Southeastern U.S. environmental factors such as rainfall, temperature, and seasonal variations have been associated with the prevalence of pathogens or microbial indicators of fecal contamination in water. Also, the geographical location of the irrigation sources as well as surrounding activities and land use play an important role on the survival and prevalence of pathogenic bacteria. Therefore, these factors may be determinants useful in the evaluation of production water quality and may help to preemptively identify scenarios or hazards associated with the incidence of foodborne pathogenic microorganisms.

scholarly journals Correlation of Salmonella enterica and Listeria monocytogenes in Irrigation Water to Environmental Factors, Fecal Indicators, and Bacterial Communities

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ganyu Gu ◽  
Laura K. Strawn ◽  
Andrea R. Ottesen ◽  
Padmini Ramachandran ◽  
Elizabeth A. Reed ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Listeria Monocytogenes ◽  
Foodborne Pathogens ◽  
Irrigation Water ◽  
Salmonella Enterica ◽  
Abiotic Factors ◽  
Water Sources ◽  
Mitigation Strategies ◽  
Agricultural Water ◽  
Fecal Indicators ◽  
Produce Contamination

Outbreaks of foodborne illnesses linked to fresh fruits and vegetables have been key drivers behind a wide breadth of research aiming to fill data gaps in our understanding of the total ecology of agricultural water sources such as ponds and wells and the relationship of this ecology to foodborne pathogens such as Salmonella enterica and Listeria monocytogenes. Both S. enterica and L. monocytogenes can persist in irrigation water and have been linked to produce contamination events. Data describing the abundance of these organisms in specific agricultural water sources are valuable to guide water treatment measures. Here, we profiled the culture independent water microbiota of four farm ponds and wells correlated with microbiological recovery of S. enterica (prevalence: pond, 19.4%; well, 3.3%), L. monocytogenes (pond, 27.1%; well, 4.2%) and fecal indicator testing. Correlation between abiotic factors, including water parameters (temperature, pH, conductivity, dissolved oxygen percentage, oxidation reduction potential, and turbidity) and weather (temperature and rainfall), and foodborne pathogens were also evaluated. Although abiotic factors did not correlate with recovery of S. enterica or L. monocytogenes (p > 0.05), fecal indicators were positively correlated with incidence of S. enterica in well water. Bacterial taxa such as Sphingomonadaceae and Hymenobacter were positively correlated with the prevalence and population of S. enterica, and recovery of L. monocytogenes was positively correlated with the abundance of Rhizobacter and Comamonadaceae (p < 0.03). These data will support evolving mitigation strategies to reduce the risk of produce contamination by foodborne pathogens through irrigation.

Transcriptomic Behavior of Salmonella enterica Newport in Response to Oxidative Sanitizers

2020 ◽  
Vol 83 (2) ◽  
pp. 221-232
Author(s):  
LAUREL L. DUNN ◽  
DARA M. SMITH ◽  
FAITH J. CRITZER
Keyword(s):  
Foodborne Pathogens ◽  
Salmonella Enterica ◽  
Pathogenic Bacteria ◽  
Antimicrobial Agents ◽  
Water System ◽  
Differentially Expressed ◽  
Agricultural Water ◽  
Cellular Functions ◽  
Nucleotide Biosynthesis ◽  
Salmonella Newport

ABSTRACT Agricultural water is a known source of contamination to fresh produce and can contain foodborne pathogens including Salmonella enterica, pathogenic Escherichia coli, Listeria monocytogenes, and Campylobacter jejuni. To mitigate such risks, antimicrobial agents such as hypochlorites and peroxyacetic acid (PAA) can be applied to in-line irrigation systems as well as to water used in postharvest washing. Although these compounds are effective and widely used, some pathogenic bacteria adapt to survive exposure. RNA sequencing was used to analyze the Salmonella Newport transcriptome after exposure to sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) and PAA in a simulated agricultural water system. Overall cellular adaptive response was determined quantitatively as a function of overall gene expression of the >4,000 genes in the Salmonella Newport genome. Differentially expressed genes ranged from 11 due to 10-ppm NaOCl treatment, 316 due to 20-ppm NaOCl treatment, 1,719 due to 10-ppm PAA treatment, and 2,010 due to 20-ppm PAA treatment compared with that of the controls (water only). Differentially expressed transcripts included cellular functions such as biosynthesis, degradation, energy generation, and nonmetabolically linked functions. Oxidative exposure upregulated genes associated with key virulence, attachment, and gene transfer. Amino acid biosynthesis was upregulated due to NaOCl exposure but primarily downregulated when Salmonella Newport was exposed to PAA. Slight upregulation occurred in nucleoside and nucleotide biosynthesis, a known DNA repair mechanism seen during exposure to sanitizers. Our results indicate that Salmonella Newport reacts differently when exposed to NaOCl versus PAA, despite oxidative activity being the primary modes of antimicrobial action of both compounds. HIGHLIGHTS

scholarly journals Antibacterial Compounds from Mushrooms: A Lead to Fight ESKAPEE Pathogenic Bacteria?

Planta Medica ◽  
2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Violette Hamers ◽  
Clément Huguet ◽  
Mélanie Bourjot ◽  
Aurélie Urbain
Keyword(s):  
Antibiotic Resistance ◽  
Global Health ◽  
Pathogenic Bacteria ◽  
Resistance Mechanisms ◽  
Pathogenic Microorganisms ◽  
Bacterial Strains ◽  
Antibacterial Compounds ◽  
New Antibiotics ◽  
Hospital Stays ◽  
Antibacterial Potential

AbstractInfectious diseases are among the greatest threats to global health in the 21st century, and one critical concern is due to antibiotic resistance developed by an increasing number of bacterial strains. New resistance mechanisms are emerging with many infections becoming more and more difficult if not impossible to treat. This growing phenomenon not only is associated with increased mortality but also with longer hospital stays and higher medical costs. For these reasons, there is an urgent need to find new antibiotics targeting pathogenic microorganisms such as ESKAPEE bacteria. Most of currently approved antibiotics are derived from microorganisms, but higher fungi could constitute an alternative and remarkable reservoir of anti-infectious compounds. For instance, pleuromutilins constitute the first class of antibiotics derived from mushrooms. However, macromycetes still represent a largely unexplored source. Publications reporting the antibacterial potential of mushroom extracts are emerging, but few purified compounds have been evaluated for their bioactivity on pathogenic bacterial strains. Therefore, the aim of this review is to compile up-to-date data about natural products isolated from fruiting body fungi, which significantly inhibit the growth of ESKAPEE pathogenic bacteria. When available, data regarding modes of action and cytotoxicity, mandatory when considering a possible drug development, have been discussed in order to highlight the most promising compounds.

scholarly journals The Use of Bacteriophages in the Poultry Industry

Animals ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (5) ◽  
pp. 872 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katarzyna Żbikowska ◽  
Monika Michalczuk ◽  
Beata Dolka
Keyword(s):  
Foodborne Pathogens ◽  
Pathogenic Bacteria ◽  
Bacterial Resistance ◽  
Health And Safety ◽  
Legal Framework ◽  
Multidrug Resistant ◽  
Poultry Production ◽  
Salmonella Spp ◽  
Food Contact Surfaces ◽  
Public Health And Safety

The emergence of multidrug-resistant infections and antibiotic failures have raised concerns over human and veterinary medicine worldwide. Poultry production has had to confront the problems of an alarming increase in bacterial resistance, including zoonotic pathogens. According to the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), campylobacteriosis and salmonellosis have been the most frequently reported human foodborne diseases linked to poultry. This situation has strongly stimulated a renewal of scientists’ interest in bacteriophages (phages) since the beginning of the 21st century. Bacteriophages are the viruses of bacteria. They are abundant in nature, and accompany bacteria in each environment they colonize, including human microbiota. In this review, we focused on the use of bacteriophages as therapeutic agents to treat infections and reduce counts of pathogenic bacteria in poultry, as biocontrol agents to eliminate foodborne pathogens on/in food, and also as disinfectants to reduce contamination on food-contact surfaces or poultry carcasses in industrial conditions. Most of the phage-based products are targeted against the main foodborne pathogens, such as Campylobacter jejuni, Salmonella spp., Escherichia coli, Listeria monocytogenes, Staphylococcus aureus, and Clostridium perfringens. Phages are currently addressed at all stages of the poultry production "from farm to fork", however, their implementation into live birds and food products still provokes discussions especially in the context of the current legal framework, limitations, as well as public health and safety.

Transfer of Salmonella enterica Serovar Typhimurium from Beef to Tomato through Kitchen Equipment and the Efficacy of Intermediate Decontamination Procedures

2016 ◽  
Vol 79 (7) ◽  
pp. 1252-1258 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. GKANA ◽  
A. LIANOU ◽  
G.-J. E. NYCHAS
Keyword(s):  
Foodborne Pathogens ◽  
Salmonella Enterica ◽  
Fruits And Vegetables ◽  
Salmonella Enterica Serovar Typhimurium ◽  
Tap Water ◽  
Pathogenic Microorganisms ◽  
Cross Contamination ◽  
Raw Meat ◽  
Serovar Typhimurium ◽  
Cutting Boards

ABSTRACT It is well established that a high percentage of foodborne illness is caused by failure of consumers to prepare food in a hygienic manner. Indeed, a common practice in households is to use the same kitchen equipment for both raw meat and fresh produce. Such a practice may lead to cross-contamination of fruits and vegetables, which are mainly consumed without further processing, with pathogenic microorganisms originating from raw meat. The present study was performed to examine the transfer of the pathogenic bacterium Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium from inoculated beef fillets to tomatoes via contact with high-density polyethylene (PE), stainless steel (SS), and wooden (WD) surfaces and through cutting with SS knives. Furthermore, the following decontamination procedures were applied: (i) rinsing with tap water, (ii) scrubbing with tap water and liquid dish detergent, and (iii) using a commercial antibacterial spray. When surfaces and knives that came into contact with contaminated beef fillets were not cleaned prior to handling tomatoes, the lowest level of pathogen transfer to tomatoes was observed through PE surfaces. All of the decontamination procedures applied were more effective on knives than on surfaces, while among the surface materials tested, WD surfaces were the most difficult to decontaminate, followed by PE and SS surfaces. Mechanical cleaning with tap water and detergent was more efficient in decontaminating WD surfaces than using commercial disinfectant spray, followed by rinsing only with water. Specifically, reductions of 2.07 and 1.09 log CFU/cm2 were achieved by washing the WD surfaces with water and detergent and spraying the surfaces with an antibacterial product, respectively. Although the pathogen's populations on SS and PE surfaces, as well as on tomatoes, after both aforementioned treatments were under the detection limit, the surfaces were all positive after enrichment, and thus, the potential risk of cross-contamination cannot be overlooked. As demonstrated by the results of this study, washing or disinfection of kitchen equipment may not be sufficient to avoid cross-contamination of ready-to-eat foods with foodborne pathogens, depending on the decontamination treatment applied and the material of the surfaces treated. Therefore, separate cutting boards and knives should be used for processing raw meat and preparing ready-to-eat foods in order to enhance food safety.

Insects as vectors of foodborne pathogenic bacteria

2011 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 5-16 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeffrey Blazar ◽  
Marc Allard ◽  
E. Kurt Lienau
Keyword(s):  
Food Safety ◽  
Foodborne Pathogens ◽  
Pathogenic Bacteria ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Disease Outbreaks ◽  
House Fly ◽  
American Cockroach ◽  
Health Concern ◽  
Foodborne Disease ◽  
Salmonella Spp

AbstractFood safety is an important consideration worldwide. To maintain and improve our current knowledge of foodborne disease outbreaks, we must understand some of the more imminent issues related to food safety. A variety of agents are responsible for transmitting the estimated 76 million cases of illnesses caused by foodborne pathogens every year. This review explores why insects pose a serious health concern, in terms of worldwide food safety initiatives, by looking at evidence in published <abs>Food safety is an important consideration worldwide. To maintain and improve our current knowledge of foodborne disease outbreaks, we must understand some of the more imminent issues related to food safety. A variety of agents are responsible for transmitting the estimated 76 million cases of illnesses caused by foodborne pathogens every year. This review explores why insects pose a serious health concern, in terms of worldwide food safety initiatives, by looking at evidence in published literature. We highlight at least eleven different species of insects, including the lesser mealworm, Alphitobius diaperinus (Panzer); secondary screwworm, Cochliomyia macellaria (Fabricius); synanthropic flies [flesh fly, Sarcophaga carnaria (L.); house fly, Musca domestica (L.); fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster (Meigen); and stable fly, Stomoxys calcitrans (L.)], American cockroach, Periplaneta americana (L.); German cockroach, Blatella germanica (L.); Oriental cockroach, Blatta orientalis (L.); Pacific beetle cockroach, Diploptera punctata (Eschscholtz); and Speckled feeder cockroach, Nauphoeta cinerea (Olivier), which act as vectors for Salmonella spp. or Escherichia coli and illustrate how these insects are successful vectors of foodborne disease outbreaks. We propose that insects be considered as one of the latest issues in food safety initiatives. Not only are some insects extremely important contributors to diseases, but now we suggest that more research into insects as potential carriers of E. coli and Salmonella spp., and therefore as contributing to foodborne disease outbreaks, is granted.

scholarly journals Characterisation of mobile colistin resistance genes (mcr-3 and mcr-5) in river and storm water in regions of the Western Cape of South Africa

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yolandi Snyman ◽  
Andrew C. Whitelaw ◽  
Jo M. Barnes ◽  
Motlatji R. B. Maloba ◽  
Mae Newton-Foot
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Water Samples ◽  
Pathogenic Bacteria ◽  
Multidrug Resistant ◽  
Water Sources ◽  
Storm Water ◽  
Gene Variants ◽  
Western Cape ◽  
Colistin Resistance ◽  
Three Rivers

Abstract Background Colistin is regarded as a last-resort antimicrobial against multi-drug resistant Gram-negative bacteria (GNB), therefore the dissemination of colistin resistance in the environment is of great concern. Horizontal transfer of mobile colistin resistance (mcr) genes to potential pathogens poses a serious problem. This study aimed to describe the presence of colistin resistant GNB and mcr genes in river and storm water in regions of the Western Cape. Methods Water samples were collected from three rivers during May 2019 and January 2020 and two storm water samples were collected in November 2019. Colistin resistant GNB were cultured on MacConkey agar containing colistin and identified by MALDI-TOF. Colistin resistance was confirmed using broth microdilution (BMD). mcr-1-5 genes were detected by PCR performed directly on the water samples and on the colistin resistant isolates. mcr functionality was assessed by BMD after cloning the mcr genes into pET-48b(+) and expression in SHuffle T7 E. coli. Results mcr-5.1 and various mcr-3 gene variants were detected in the Plankenburg-, Eerste- and Berg rivers and in storm water from Muizenberg, and only mcr-5.1 was detected in storm water from Fish Hoek. Colistin resistant GNB were isolated from all of the water sources. Aeromonas spp. were the most common colistin resistant organisms detected in the water sources; 25% (6/24) of colistin resistant Aeromonas spp. isolated from the Berg river contained novel mcr-3 variants; mcr-3.33 (n = 1), mcr-3.34 (n = 1) mcr-3.35 (n = 1) mcr-3.36 (n = 2) and mcr-3.37 (n = 1), which were confirmed to confer colistin resistance. Conclusions The mcr-5.1 and mcr-3 colistin resistance gene variants were present in widely dispersed water sources in regions of the Western Cape. The mcr genes were only detected in water sampled downstream of and alongside communities, suggesting that their presence is driven by human influence/contamination. This is the first documentation of mcr-3 and mcr-5 gene variants in any setting in South Africa. Spill-over of these genes to communities could result in horizontal gene transfer to pathogenic bacteria, exacerbating the challenge of controlling multidrug resistant GNB infections.

scholarly journals DETECTION OF POTENTIALLY PATHOGENIC BACTERIA IN THE BRACKISH RIVERS FLOWING INTO THE ELTON LAKE BY HIGH-THROUGHPUT SEQUENCING

2018 ◽  
pp. 87-95 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. A. Selivanova ◽  
Yu. A. Khlopko ◽  
N. E. Gogoleva ◽  
A. O. Plotnikov
Keyword(s):  
High Throughput ◽  
Pathogenic Bacteria ◽  
Bacterial Contamination ◽  
High Throughput Sequencing ◽  
Pore Diameter ◽  
Pathogenic Microorganisms ◽  
Membrane Filters ◽  
Marine Habitats ◽  
Dna Libraries ◽  
Enzymatic Lysis

Aim. To indicate potentially pathogenic bacteria in plankton of the brackish rivers flowing into the Elton Lake by high-throughput sequencing of 16S ssuRNA gene. Materials and methods. The water samples from brackish rivers Lantsug and Chernavka, flowing into the Elton Lake, were taken up in a volume of 50 ml, filtered through membrane filters (pore diameter - 0.22 pm). Total DNAwas obtained by phenol-chloroform extraction with preliminary homogenization and enzymatic lysis. DNA libraries for sequencing were created by protocol Illumina with primers to a variable V3-V4 region of 16S ssuRNA gene. Sequencing was performed on a platform MiSeq («Illumina», США). Results.There were found the phylotypes of potentially pathogenic bacteria of Proteobacteria phylum from the families Enterobacteriaceae, Pseudomonadaceae, Campylobacteraceae, Vibrionaceae, Aeromonadaceae, Moraxellaceae, Legionellaceae, Alcaligenaceae, Campylobacteraceae, and also of Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, Actinobacteria phyla in the plankton samples of the brackish rivers. Probable source of bacterial contamination is large and small cattle. Conclusion. These data demonstrate that the continental brackish waters, along with freshwater and marine habitats perform a reservoir function to potentially pathogenic microorganisms. High-throughput sequencing can be used to screen the presence of pathogens in water.

scholarly journals Application of Freeze-Dryers of Chamber Type in the Collections of Pathogenic Microorganisms

2014 ◽  
pp. 65-68 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. S. Chervyakova ◽  
T. V. Valova ◽  
A. V. Osin
Keyword(s):  
Shelf Life ◽  
Freeze Drying ◽  
Pathogenic Bacteria ◽  
Pathogenic Microorganisms ◽  
Biological Safety ◽  
Freeze Dried ◽  
Mass Reproduction ◽  
Long Storage

By the example of Martin Christ Epsilon 2-6D device carried out was assessment of the possibility to use freeze-dryers of the chamber type for conservation of pathogenic microorganisms collection strains. Elaborated was algorithm of lyophilisation of the III-IV pathogenicity groups bacteria, which incorporated conditions of freeze-drying and biological safety provision of this process. Indices of viability and survivability were defined for freeze-dried cells of pathogenic bacteria strains. Using thermostability test calculated were predicted timelines of storage of collection strains preparations freeze-dried in the flasks in Martin Christ Epsilon 2-6D. It was determined that in the collections of pathogenic microorganisms freeze-dryers of the chamber type could be used most prospectively for the III-IV pathogenicity groups bacteria conservation requiring mass reproduction and not intended for long storage. At the same time their application for freeze-drying of the strains of the I-II pathogenicity groups bacteria intended for a long storage, requires further adaptation of these devices as regards biological safety provision and prolongation of the shelf life.

scholarly journals Antibacterial properties of rain tree ( ) and Mexican sunflower (Tithonia diversifolia ) used as fodder in ruminant nutrition

2020 ◽  
Vol 45 (2) ◽  
pp. 331-341
Author(s):  
F. T. Ajayi ◽  
S. O. Omotoso ◽  
O. J. Babayemi
Keyword(s):  
Foodborne Pathogens ◽  
Pathogenic Bacteria ◽  
Antibacterial Properties ◽  
Tithonia Diversifolia ◽  
Standard Procedures ◽  
Fodder Plants ◽  
Zones Of Inhibition ◽  
Ethanol Extracts ◽  
Albizia Saman

Acetone and ethanol extracts of Albizia saman (ASL) and Tithonia diversifolia (TDL) leaves used as fodder for ruminant were evaluated for their antibacterial properties against selected pathogenic bacteria. Phytochemical screening was determined according to standard procedures, while antibacterial activity was by agar well diffusion and broth micro dilution methods. The levels of tannin (0.29 and 0.34 mg/100g); saponin (0.75 and 0.59 mg/100g); oxalates (0.17 and 0.14mg/100g); and phytate (0.11 and 0.12 mg/100g) in the fodder plants were below critical levels that may affect digestibility in ruminants. Acetone and ethanol extracts from ASL and TDL showed maximum zones of inhibition against Staphylococcus aureus (19.00 and 14.50 mm; 23.00 and 21.50 mm) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (15.50 and 12.00 mm; 18.50 and 17.00 mm), respectively compared to Gentamycin (9.97 mm). Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values of acetone and ethanol extracts from ASL ranged from 0.10 to 0.28 mg/mL and 0.13 to 0.22 mg/mL, while TDL extracts ranged from 0.20 to 0.32 mg/mL and 0.20 to 0.31 mg/mL, respectively for all the tested organisms. Minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) values of ethanol extracts from both plant ranged from 0.5-0.80 mg/mL and 0.7-0.90 mg/mL compared to MBC values (0.02-0.04 mg/mL) of the reference antibiotic (gentamycin) for all the tested bacteria species. In conclusion, antibacterial properties exhibited by the plant extract implied that the bioactive compounds are potential antibacterial agents against pathogenic bacteria of ruminant or foodborne pathogens in vitro.

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