Survival and Dissemination of Escherichia coli O157:H7 on Physically and Biologically Damaged Lettuce Plants

Aruscavage, Daniel; Miller, Sally A.; Ivey, Melanie L. Lewis; Lee, Ken; LeJeune, Jeffrey T.

doi:10.4315/0362-028x-71.12.2384

Cited by 76 publications

(73 citation statements)

References 23 publications

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“…In comparison with other studies on the survival of these pathogens on fresh produce (e.g., Aruscavage et al, 2008;Brandl and Amundson, 2008;Erickson et al, 2010a), we used growing butterhead lettuce plants cultivated under realistic northern European lettuce production conditions. The experiments were performed under the controlled conditions of a growth chamber, but in parallel an experiment in the greenhouse was made to evaluate whether the investigated factors are also important under conditions of current practice.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Irrigation water is considered a potentially important introduction route, and several studies have shown its potential for the transmission of enteric pathogens to lettuce plants. However, most of these studies were conducted either under laboratory or controlled conditions in growth chambers (Brandl and Mandrell, 2002;Solomon et al, 2003;Aruscavage et al, 2008;Aruscavage et al, 2010;Brandl and Amundson, 2008;Zhang et al, 2009;Erickson et al, 2010a) or field experiments (Barker-Reid et al, 2009;Erickson et al, 2010b;Harapas et al, 2010;Wood et al, 2010;Fonseca et al, 2011). Few studies have compared both types of experimental setups.…”

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confidence: 99%

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Survival of Enteric Pathogens During Butterhead Lettuce Growth: Crop Stage, Leaf Age, and Irrigation

Linden¹,

Cottyn²,

Uyttendaele

et al. 2013

Foodborne Pathogens and Disease

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The survival of Salmonella enterica serovar Thompson and Escherichia coli O157 was investigated on growing butterhead lettuce plants in the plant-growth chamber and greenhouse. All inoculation tests were made under conditions that approximate the greenhouse conditions for butterhead lettuce cultivation in Flanders (Belgium). The survival and proliferation of the pathogens on the leaves was determined at days 0, 4, and 8 after inoculation using standard plating techniques on selective medium. In the growth chamber, the extent to which both pathogens were able to multiply on the lettuce leaves was influenced by crop stage and leaf age. On young plants, the older leaves supported pathogen survival better. On nearly mature plants, pathogen population sizes were significantly higher on the old and young leaves compared with middle-aged leaves ( p < 0.001). In the greenhouse, the environmental regimen with high fluctuations in temperature and relative humidity was less conducive to the survival of E. coli O157, though its survival on nearly mature lettuce was enhanced by overhead irrigation. The moist conditions between the folded inner leaves are likely contributing to the survival of enteric pathogens in the lettuce head. Butterhead lettuce grown in greenhouses with a sprinkle irrigation system may present a potential health hazard when contaminated near harvest. Experimental design (growth chamber versus greenhouse) largely influences enteric pathogen behavior on growing lettuce plants.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Survival of Enteric Pathogens During Butterhead Lettuce Growth: Crop Stage, Leaf Age, and Irrigation

Linden¹,

Cottyn²,

Uyttendaele

et al. 2013

Foodborne Pathogens and Disease

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“…Interactions of pathogens with native host-associated microbiota are complex, and their mechanisms only now are beginning to be understood (7,11,12,(36)(37)(38)(39)). Salmonella appears to be able to repurpose the strategies it uses to obtain nutrients in the intestine in order to gain 1,2-propanediol and ethanolamine from soft rots (12).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Salmonella appears to be able to repurpose the strategies it uses to obtain nutrients in the intestine in order to gain 1,2-propanediol and ethanolamine from soft rots (12). Nevertheless, mechanisms by which these enteric pathogens take advantage of the presence of phytopathogens only now are beginning to be understood (7,12,38).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Contribution of the Salmonella enterica KdgR Regulon to Persistence of the Pathogen in Vegetable Soft Rots

George

González

Lorca

et al. 2016

Appl Environ Microbiol

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bDuring their colonization of plants, human enteric pathogens, such as Salmonella enterica, are known to benefit from interactions with phytopathogens. At least in part, benefits derived by Salmonella from the association with a soft rot caused by Pectobacterium carotovorum were shown to be dependent on Salmonella KdgR, a regulator of genes involved in the uptake and utilization of carbon sources derived from the degradation of plant polymers. A Salmonella kdgR mutant was more fit in soft rots but not in the lesions caused by Xanthomonas spp. and Pseudomonas spp. Bioinformatic, phenotypic, and gene expression analyses demonstrated that the KdgR regulon included genes involved in uptake and metabolism of molecules resulting from pectin degradation as well as those central to the utilization of a number of other carbon sources. Mutant analyses indicated that the Entner-Doudoroff pathway, in part controlled by KdgR, was critical for the persistence within soft rots and likely was responsible for the kdgR phenotype.

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“…In the field, plants are exposed to various biotic and abiotic stress factors, such as phytopathogen infections, physical damage, waterlogging, and rapid and wide fluctuations in temperature (8,9). Depending on the duration and the type of the stressor and the plant's ability to adapt to stress, the stressor may affect the plant's growth and productivity (10).…”

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confidence: 99%

Abiotic Stress and Phyllosphere Bacteria Influence the Survival of Human Norovirus and Its Surrogates on Preharvest Leafy Greens

Esseili

Gao

Tegtmeier

et al. 2016

Appl Environ Microbiol

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Foodborne outbreaks of human noroviruses (HuNoVs) are frequently associated with leafy greens. Because there is no effective method to eliminate HuNoV from postharvest leafy greens, understanding virus survival under preharvest conditions is crucial. The objective of this study was to evaluate the survival of HuNoV and its surrogate viruses, murine norovirus (MNV), porcine sapovirus (SaV), and Tulane virus (TV), on preharvest lettuce and spinach that were subjected to abiotic stress (physical damage, heat, or flood). We also examined the bacteria culturable from the phyllosphere in response to abiotic stress and in relation to viral persistence. Mature plants were subjected to stressors 2 days prior to inoculation of the viruses on leaves. We quantified the viral RNA, determined the infectivity of the surrogates, and performed bacterial counts on postinoculation days (PIDs) 0, 1, 7, and 14. For both plant types, time exerted significant effects on HuNoV, MNV, SaV, and TV RNA titers, with greater effects being seen for the surrogates. Infectious surrogate viruses were undetectable on PID 14. Only physical damage on PID 14 significantly enhanced HuNoV RNA persistence on lettuce, while the three stressors differentially enhanced the persistence of MNV and TV RNA. Bacterial counts were significantly affected by time and plant type but not by the stressors. However, bacterial counts correlated significantly with HuNoV RNA titers on spinach and with the presence of surrogate viruses on both plant types under various conditions. In conclusion, abiotic stressors and phyllosphere bacterial density may differentially influence the survival of HuNoV and its surrogates on lettuce and spinach, emphasizing the need for the use of preventive measures at the preharvest stage.H uman noroviruses (HuNoVs) are the leading cause of acute gastroenteritis and foodborne illnesses in the United States, causing 19 million to 21 million cases, 570 to 800 deaths, and $777 million in health care-associated costs annually (1). These singlestranded RNA viruses belong to the Caliciviridae family and are 28 to 35 nm in diameter and nonenveloped. Although these viruses cause self-limiting gastroenteritis, more serious infections can develop in high-risk groups, such as the elderly and immunocompromised populations (2). The virus is mainly transmitted to humans via the fecal-oral route either by contact with an infected person or fomites or by ingestion of contaminated food and water (2). Leafy greens are frequently associated with HuNoV outbreaks (1) and are globally recognized to be a high priority in terms of the microbial safety of fresh produce (3). Contamination of leafy greens with HuNoVs can occur at any stage along the farm-to-fork chain (3) through a number of sources, including fecally contaminated water used for irrigation, improperly treated sewage sludge used for fertilization, and food harvesters or food handlers who use improper hygiene practices (4, 5). Because HuNoVs have a low infectious dose (ϳ18 to 1,000 viral particles) (6) ...

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Survival and Dissemination of Escherichia coli O157:H7 on Physically and Biologically Damaged Lettuce Plants

Cited by 76 publications

References 23 publications

Survival of Enteric Pathogens During Butterhead Lettuce Growth: Crop Stage, Leaf Age, and Irrigation

Survival of Enteric Pathogens During Butterhead Lettuce Growth: Crop Stage, Leaf Age, and Irrigation

Contribution of the Salmonella enterica KdgR Regulon to Persistence of the Pathogen in Vegetable Soft Rots

Abiotic Stress and Phyllosphere Bacteria Influence the Survival of Human Norovirus and Its Surrogates on Preharvest Leafy Greens

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