Using the agricultural environment to select better surrogates for foodborne pathogens associated with fresh produce

摘要: Despite continuing efforts to reduce foodborne pathogen contamination of fresh produce, significant outbreaks continue occur. Identification appropriate surrogates for pathogens facilitates relevant research identify reservoirs and amplifiers these contaminants in production processing environments. Therefore, the objective this study was environmental Escherichia coli isolates from manures (poultry, swine dairy) surface water sources with properties similar those produce associated E. O157:H7 Salmonella enterica serotype Typhimurium. The most were poultry (n=3) (n=1) sources. best had cell characteristics (zeta potential, hydrophobicity exopolysaccharide composition) that (i.e., within 15%) S. Typhimurium and/or formed biofilms more often when grown low nutrient media prepared lettuce lysates (24%) than on high broth (7%). rate attachment leaves also In contrast, O157:H7, a commonly used quality control strain behaved similarly; all lowest 10% biofilm formation leaf attachment. These data suggest environment may provide valuable resource selection pathogens.