Differential attachment to and subsequent contamination of agricultural crops by Salmonella enterica

Appl Environ Microbiol. 2008 Sep;74(17):5568-70. doi: 10.1128/AEM.01077-08. Epub 2008 Jul 7.

Abstract

U.S. salmonellosis outbreaks have occurred following consumption of tomato and cantaloupe but not lettuce. We report differential contamination among agricultural seedlings by Salmonella enterica via soil. Members of the family Brassicaceae had a higher incidence of outbreak than carrot, lettuce, and tomato. Once they were contaminated, phyllosphere populations were similar, except for tomato. Contamination differences exist among tomato cultivars.

MeSH terms

  • Bacterial Adhesion*
  • Colony Count, Microbial
  • Crops, Agricultural / microbiology*
  • Disease Outbreaks
  • Food Microbiology*
  • Humans
  • Lactuca / microbiology
  • Salmonella Food Poisoning / microbiology
  • Salmonella enterica / growth & development*
  • Soil Microbiology*
  • Solanum lycopersicum / microbiology