Assessment of the Risk of Microbial Contamination of an Urban Crop in the City of Daloa (Côte d'Ivoire): Case of Lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.)

Abstract

The growing population of the city of Daloa, together with its growing urbanization, has a diversified need for food resources. Urban and periurban production of lettuce is a food resource for its people. This study was designed to assess the risk of microbial contamination. For the conduct of the study, first a survey was carried out on different sites of urban production to know the technical process of production. Then, mature lettuce, ready for sale and then consumed from a site, was subjected to microbiological characterization according to the standards in force. Microbiological analyzes revealed a high contamination. For mesophilic aerobic germs, the charges in CFU/g ranged between 1.7x10 7 and 6.7x10 7 . The loads in CFU/g for yeasts and molds ranged from 3.4x10 5 to 9.3x10 5 . As for fecal coliforms and enterobacteria, their loads ranged between 1.2x10 5 to 2.8x10 5 CFU/g for the first and 7.2x10 5 to 10 6 CFU/g for the second. These samples were contaminated with both Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus c + and Salmonella sp. The loads in E. coli and S. aureus c+ ranged between 9.4x10 4 and 1.8x10 5 for the first and 4x10 3 to 1.1x10 4 CFU/g for the second. Salmonella sp. was found with loads ranging from 6.1x10 4 to 8.2x10 4 CFU/g. Empirical production process would increase the risk of microbial contamination. It is necessary to produce healthy lettuce for Daloa's consumers.

Microbial Contamination Potential and Antibiotic Resistance Profile of Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli Isolated from Ipomoea batatas Leaf

“…In most developing countries marked by the lack of financial support for drinking water and fertilizers for soil fertilization, market gardeners are forced to use wastewater for irrigation and animal excrement as soil fertilizer [10][11][12]. In addition, the flow of rainwater to these crops also carries other types of pathogenic microorganisms of fecal origin, largely originating from the defecation of domestic or wild animals [13].…”

“…In Ivory Coast, urban and peri-urban agriculture is often practiced on marshy sites, in cities or around cities. It is growing rapidly in large cities with strong urbanization such as Abidjan, Yamoussoukro, Bouaké or Daloa where food needs are growing and diversified [12]. According to Atchibri et al [17], Ivoirians consume several traditional leafy vegetables such as vegetable coretes (Corchorus olitorius), amaranth (Amaranthus hybridus), sorrel (Hibiscus sabdarifa), black nightshade (Solanum nigrum), potato leaves (Ipomoea batatas), celosia (Celosia argentea), spinach (Spinach oleracea) and African cabbage (Cleome gynandra).…”

Consumption of Traditional Leafy Vegetables (Amaranthus hybridus) and Risk of its Microbial Contamination in Daloa Town (Côte d’Ivoire)

“…In Côte d'Ivoire, urban and peri-urban agriculture is practiced most often on some inappropriate place in cities or around cities. Urban agriculture is growing quickly in large urban centers such as Abidjan, Yamoussoukro, Bouake and Daloa, where food needs are growing and diversified [1]. With rampant urbanization, the university town of Daloa is also confronted with profound changes in lifestyles, work activities, family and social relations, which crystallize the problem of food security.…”

“…With rampant urbanization, the university town of Daloa is also confronted with profound changes in lifestyles, work activities, family and social relations, which crystallize the problem of food security. The direct benefit of this agriculture is the rapid supply of fresh produce from urban populations [1,2]. In addition, it produces economic and social functions for the city, through the direct and indirect jobs that it provides [3].…”

“…Despite all the advantages of growing and eating traditional leafy vegetables, the health risks associated with the conditions of production are numerous. In Côte d'Ivoire, as in most developing countries, in difficult contexts marked notably by the lack of financial means for the supply of drinking water and synthetic fertilizers for soil fertilization, vegetable growers are motivate the using of wastewater for irrigation and animal manure as soil fertilizer [1,9,10]. In addition, rainwater runoff to these crops also carries other types of pathogenic microorganisms of fecal origin, largely from defecations of domestic or wild animals [11].…”