Endogenous microbial contamination of melons (<i>Cucumis melo</i>) from international trade: an underestimated risk for the consumer?

Esteban-Cuesta, Irene; Drees, Nathalie; Ulrich, Sebastian; Stauch, P.; Sperner, Brigitte; Schwaiger, Karin; Gareis, M.; Gottschalk, Christoph

doi:10.1002/jsfa.9045

Cited by 17 publications

(13 citation statements)

References 52 publications

(133 reference statements)

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“…Antibiotic residues in manure or soil might be more critical than is presence of manure-borne ARB, due to higher persistence. Antibiotic residues were able to select antimicrobially resistant endophytic bacteria, which are not removed by washing or peeling (Zhang et al , 2017 ; Esteban-Cuesta et al , 2018 ).…”

Section: Risk Prevention: Sources Of Contaminationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Unraveling the Role of Vegetables in Spreading Antimicrobial-Resistant Bacteria: A Need for Quantitative Risk Assessment

Hölzel

Tetens

Schwaiger

2018

Foodborne Pathogens and Disease

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109

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In recent years, vegetables gain consumer attraction due to their reputation of being healthy in combination with low energy density. However, since fresh produce is often eaten raw, it may also be a source for foodborne illness. The presence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria might pose a particular risk to the consumer. Therefore, this review aims to present the current state of knowledge concerning the exposure of humans to antibiotic-resistant bacteria via food of plant origin for quantitative risk assessment purposes. The review provides a critical overview of available information on hazard identification and characterization, exposure assessment, and risk prevention with special respect to potential sources of contamination and infection chains. Several comprehensive studies are accessible regarding major antimicrobial-resistant foodborne pathogens (e.g., Salmonella spp., Listeria spp., Bacillus cereus, Campylobacter spp., Escherichia coli) and other bacteria (e.g., further Enterobacteriaceae, Pseudomonas spp., Gram-positive cocci). These studies revealed vegetables to be a potential—although rare—vector for extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing Enterobacteriaceae, mcr1-positive E. coli, colistin- and carbapenem-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa, linezolid-resistant enterococci and staphylococci, and vancomycin-resistant enterococci. Even if this provides first clues for assessing the risk related to vegetable-borne antimicrobial-resistant bacteria, the literature research reveals important knowledge gaps affecting almost every part of risk assessment and management. Especially, the need for (comparable) quantitative data as well as data on possible contamination sources other than irrigation water, organic fertilizer, and soil becomes obvious. Most crucially, dose–response studies would be needed to convert a theoretical “risk” (e.g., related to antimicrobial-resistant commensals and opportunistic pathogens) into a quantitative risk estimate.

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Section: Risk Prevention: Sources Of Contaminationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Unraveling the Role of Vegetables in Spreading Antimicrobial-Resistant Bacteria: A Need for Quantitative Risk Assessment

Hölzel

Tetens

Schwaiger

2018

Foodborne Pathogens and Disease

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109

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“…enterica serovar Choleraesuis were analyzed, being one isolate of plant origin isolated from the pulp of muskmelons (var. Galia; [ 12 ]), and one of animal origin from wild boar (septicemic infection of inner organs), provided by the German National Reference Laboratory for Salmonella .…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Many studies have addressed the contamination of crops with human pathogenic Enterobacteria and plants have become a normal step in the lifecycle of these microorganisms [ 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 ]. In addition to the surface contamination of these food items, internalization of human pathogenic bacteria in plants and their fruits has also been addressed [ 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 ]. Internalization seems to depend on both the microorganism and the plant variety, with the immune system of each plant able to more effectively recognize certain strains than others, hence triggering a stronger or weaker immune response [ 8 , 9 , 13 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Phenotypic and Genetic Comparison of a Plant-Internalized and an Animal-Isolated Salmonella Choleraesuis Strain

Esteban-Cuesta¹,

Labrador

Hunt³

et al. 2021

Microorganisms

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Contamination of fresh produce with human pathogens poses an important risk for consumers, especially after raw consumption. Moreover, if microorganisms are internalized, no removal by means of further hygienic measures would be possible. Human pathogenic bacteria identified in these food items are mostly of human or animal origin and an adaptation to this new niche and particularly for internalization would be presumed. This study compares a plant-internalized and an animal-borne Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Choleraesuis aiming at the identification of adaptation of the plant-internalized strain to its original environment. For this purpose, a phenotypical characterization by means of growth curves under conditions resembling the indigenous environment from the plant-internalized strain and further analyses using Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis and Matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time of flight spectrometry were assessed. Furthermore, comparative genomic analyses by means of single nucleotide polymorphisms and identification of present/absent genes were performed. Although some phenotypical and genetic differences could be found, no signs of a specific adaptation for colonization and internalization in plants could be clearly identified. This could suggest that any Salmonella strain could directly settle in this niche without any evolutionary process being necessary. Further comparative analysis including internalized strains would be necessary to assess this question. However, these kinds of strains are not easily available.

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“…have been reported (5,6), and internalization into plants has been described for Salmonella spp. (7)(8)(9). This may offer the pathogen a growth advantage and therefore increase the risk to consumers.…”

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confidence: 99%

“…This may offer the pathogen a growth advantage and therefore increase the risk to consumers. Strain 11-Galia-2015 was isolated from the pulp of a Galia melon (8) and serotyped at the German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR). Here, we present the draft whole-genome sequence of this strain.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Draft Genome Sequence of a Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica Serotype Choleraesuis Strain Isolated from the Pulp of Muskmelons

Esteban-Cuesta

Fischer

Guldimann

2021

Microbiol Resour Announc

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Endogenous microbial contamination of melons (Cucumis melo) from international trade: an underestimated risk for the consumer?

Abstract: The present study revealed a regularly occurring internal contamination of melons. Possible health risks for consumers because of an occurrence of microorganisms in melon pulp should be considered in future food safety assessments. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry.

Cited by 17 publications

References 52 publications

Unraveling the Role of Vegetables in Spreading Antimicrobial-Resistant Bacteria: A Need for Quantitative Risk Assessment

Unraveling the Role of Vegetables in Spreading Antimicrobial-Resistant Bacteria: A Need for Quantitative Risk Assessment

Phenotypic and Genetic Comparison of a Plant-Internalized and an Animal-Isolated Salmonella Choleraesuis Strain

Draft Genome Sequence of a Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica Serotype Choleraesuis Strain Isolated from the Pulp of Muskmelons

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