scholarly journals Accounting for the Three-Dimensional Distribution of Escherichia coli Concentrations in Pond Water in Simulations of the Microbial Quality of Water Withdrawn for Irrigation

Water ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (6) ◽  
pp. 1708
Author(s):  
Matthew Stocker ◽  
Dong Jeon ◽  
Ekaterina Sokolova ◽  
Hoonsoo Lee ◽  
Moon Kim ◽  
...  

Evaluating the microbial quality of irrigation water is essential for the prevention of foodborne illnesses. Generic Escherichia coli (E. coli) is used as an indicator organism to estimate the microbial quality of irrigation water. Monitoring E. coli concentrations in irrigation water sources is commonly performed using water samples taken from a single depth. Vertical gradients of E. coli concentrations are typically not measured or are ignored; however, E. coli concentrations in water bodies can be expected to have horizontal and vertical gradients. The objective of this work was to research 3D distributions of E. coli concentrations in an irrigation pond in Maryland and to estimate the dynamics of E. coli concentrations at the water intake during the irrigation event using hydrodynamic modeling in silico. The study pond is about 22 m wide and 200 m long, with an average depth of 1.5 m. Three transects sampled at 50-cm depth intervals, along with intensive nearshore sampling, were used to develop the initial concentration distribution for the application of the environmental fluid dynamic code (EFDC) model. An eight-hour irrigation event was simulated using on-site data on the wind speed and direction. Substantial vertical and horizontal variations in E. coli concentrations translated into temporally varying concentrations at the intake. Additional simulations showed that the E. coli concentrations at the intake reflect the 3D distribution of E. coli in the limited pond section close to the intake. The 3D sampling revealed E. coli concentration hot spots at different depths across the pond. Measured and simulated 3D E. coli concentrations provide improved insights into the expected microbial water quality of irrigation water compared with 1D or 2D representations of the spatial variability of the indicator concentration.

Author(s):  
Željka Rudić ◽  
Igor Kljujev ◽  
Bojana Vujović ◽  
Mile Božić ◽  
Vera Raičević

2009 ◽  
Vol 106 (2) ◽  
pp. 442-454 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. Fremaux ◽  
T. Boa ◽  
A. Chaykowski ◽  
S. Kasichayanula ◽  
J. Gritzfeld ◽  
...  

2013 ◽  
Vol 76 (6) ◽  
pp. 959-966 ◽  
Author(s):  
GAYEON WON ◽  
PAMELA J. SCHLEGEL ◽  
JENNIFER M. SCHROCK ◽  
JEFFREY T. LeJEUNE

Irrigation water is considered a potential source of preharvest pathogen contamination of vegetables. Hence, several organizations have recommended microbiological standards for water used to irrigate edible plants. The purpose of this study was to determine the strength of association between microbial quality indicators (coliforms and Escherichia coli) in irrigation water and on irrigated vegetables. Data analyzed included original results from a cross-sectional study conducted in the Midwestern United States during summer 2009 and information presented in two previously published studies performed in France and Portugal to investigate microbial quality of irrigation water and watered produce. In the cross-sectional study, repetitive PCR (rep-PCR) was used to characterize genetic relatedness of E. coli isolates from water and vegetables. No significant correlations were found between fecal indicators on leafy greens (lettuce and parsley, n = 91) or fruit (tomatoes and green peppers, n = 22) and those found in irrigation water used in the cross-sectional study (P > 0.40) or in the previously published data sets (data set 1: lettuce and waste irrigation water, n = 15, P > 0.40; data set 2: lettuce and irrigation water, n = 32, P = 0.06). Rep-PCR banding patterns of E. coli strains were all distinguishable among the pairs of E. coli isolates recovered from produce and irrigation water on the same farm. From the available data, the concentration of indicator organisms based on a single measure of irrigation water quality was not associated with the presence of these indicators on produce. In the absence of additional information, the use of a single microbial water quality parameter as an indicator of produce safety is of limited value for predicting the safety of the produce.


2019 ◽  
Vol 49 (3) ◽  
pp. 407-417 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohammad Yousefi ◽  
Maryam Farshidi ◽  
Mahmood Alizadeh Sani ◽  
Laleh Payahoo ◽  
Ali Ehsani

PurposeThis paper aims to evaluate the microbial quality of some traditional cheese samples (sheep, cow and koopeh cheeses) consumed in northwest of Iran, and to detect Shiga-like-toxin-producingEscherichia coli(STEC) and methicillin-resistantStaphylococcus aureus(MRSA) in cheese samples by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method.Design/methodology/approachAlmost half of the project was based on counting the population of Staphylococcus aureus, total coliforms, Escherichia coli, and total aerobic mesophilic bacteria, also the other section was related to the isolation and the detection of the STEC and MRSA in cheese samples. The findings were compared with standard maximum and threshold values.FindingsThe results revealed that 36.99, 30.14 and 100% of cheeses exceeded the standard threshold value ofE. coli(102), total coliforms (104) andS. aureus(102). However, total coliforms, in any of the cheese samples examined, did not reach the maximum value and only 24.66% of samples exceeded the maximum value ofE. coli. Also, no significant difference (p> 0.05) in counts of each bacterial group examined in sheep, cow and koopeh cheeses was observed. The colony PCR method demonstrated the existence of 19 MRSA and 2 STEC isolates.Originality/valueThis research showed a general overview of the bacterial quality of cheeses in northwest of Iran.


2015 ◽  
Vol 81 (7) ◽  
pp. 2562-2570 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stefanie Delbeke ◽  
Siele Ceuppens ◽  
Claudia Titze Hessel ◽  
Irene Castro ◽  
Liesbeth Jacxsens ◽  
...  

ABSTRACTStrawberries are an important fruit in Belgium in both production and consumption, but little information is available about the presence ofSalmonellaand Shiga toxin-producingEscherichia coli(STEC) in these berries, the risk factors in agricultural production, and possible specific mitigation options. In 2012, a survey was undertaken of three soil and three soilless cultivation systems in Belgium. NoSalmonellaspp. were isolated. No STEC was detected in the strawberry samples (0 of 72), but STEC was detected by PCR in 11 of 78 irrigation water and 2 of 24 substrate samples. Culture isolates were obtained for 2 of 11 PCR-positive irrigation water samples and 2 of 2 substrate samples. Multivariable logistic regression analysis revealed elevated genericE. colinumbers (the odds ratio [OR] for a 1 log increase being 4.6) as the most important risk factor for STEC, together with the berry-picking season (elevated risk in summer). The presence of genericE. coliin the irrigation water (≥1 CFU per 100 ml) was mainly influenced by the type of irrigation water (collected rainfall water stored in ponds was more often contaminated than groundwater pumped from boreholes [OR = 5.8]) and the lack of prior treatment (untreated water versus water subjected to sand filtration prior to use [OR = 19.2]). The follow-up study in 2013 at one of the producer locations indicated cattle to be the most likely source of STEC contamination of the irrigation water.


2016 ◽  
Vol 58 ◽  
pp. 29-35 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Truchado ◽  
F. Lopez-Galvez ◽  
M.I. Gil ◽  
F. Pedrero-Salcedo ◽  
J.J. Alarcón ◽  
...  

2017 ◽  
Vol 65 ◽  
pp. 105-113 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luana Tombini Decol ◽  
Letícia Sopeña Casarin ◽  
Claudia Titze Hessel ◽  
Ana Carolina Fösch Batista ◽  
Ana Allende ◽  
...  

2003 ◽  
Vol 66 (5) ◽  
pp. 878-881 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. KARAMA ◽  
A. E. de JESUS ◽  
C. M. VEARY

The aim of this study was to evaluate the microbial quality of ostrich carcasses produced in a South African export-approved ostrich abattoir. Ninety surface samples were collected from 30 ostrich carcasses at three processing points in the abattoir: after skinning, after evisceration, and after chilling. Samples were evaluated for aerobic plate counts, for levels of Pseudomonas spp., Enterobacteriaceae, and Staphylococcus aureus, and for the presence of Escherichia coli. Surface counts (means ± standard deviations) at postskinning, postevisceration, and postchilling processing points were, respectively, 4.32 ± 0.62, 4.21 ± 0.63, and 4.57 ± 0.48 log CFU/cm2 for total aerobes; 2.82 ± 1.65, 2.86 ± 1.53, and 3.75 ± 0.94 log CFU/cm2 for Pseudomonas spp.; 2.89 ± 0.78, 2.90 ± 0.53, and 2.38 ± 0.67 log CFU/cm2 for S. aureus; and 2.55 ± 1.53, 2.78 ± 1.31, and 2.73 ± 1.46 log CFU/cm2 for Enterobacteriaceae. Statistically significant differences were detected between the counts for the postskinning and postchilling processing points and between the counts for the postevisceration and postchilling processing points for total aerobes, Pseudomonas spp., and S. aureus. Of practical significance was the increase in Pseudomonas spp. counts on samples collected after chilling. Seventeen of 90 samples (18.8%) tested positive for E. coli. Counts for E. coli–positive samples ranged from 1.0 to 3.79 log CFU/cm2, with a mean count of 2.15 ± 0.94 log CFU/cm2. The majority of the samples testing positive for E. coli were collected after evisceration.


2012 ◽  
Vol 75 (1) ◽  
pp. 132-136 ◽  
Author(s):  
JULIE A. KASE ◽  
STACEY BORENSTEIN ◽  
ROBERT J. BLODGETT ◽  
PETER C. H. FENG

Contamination with Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Salmonella have called into question the safety and microbial quality of bagged ready-to-eat leafy greens. This study expands on previous findings that these goods have high total bacteria counts (TBC) and coliform counts, variation in counts among different lots, that Escherichia coli is present, and disparities in counts when bags are top or bottom sampled. Nearly 100 bags of baby spinach and hearts of romaine lettuce from a single brand were subjected to both top and bottom sampling. Product was blended, and a portion serially diluted and plated to obtain TBC. Total coliform and E. coli levels were estimated by the most-probable-number (MPN) technique with ColiComplete discs. Top-sampled TBC from bags of baby spinach (48 bags, 13 different lots) ranged from 3.9 to 8.1 log CFU/g and bottom-sampled TBC ranged from 4.0 to 8.2 log CFU/g, with 52% of the bags (or 39% of the lots) producing TBC higher in bottom samples. For hearts of romaine (47 bags from 19 different lots), top-sampled bags had TBC ranging from 2.4 to 7.0 log, and bottom-sampled bags had TBC from 3.3 to 7.3 log, with 64% of the bags (or 63% of the lots) showing higher TBC in bottom samples. However, we are unable to reject the hypothesis that the top and bottom samples from either commodity contain the same TBC (P ≥ 0.08). No E. coli was detected and total coliform bacteria counts were, with few exceptions, ≥210 MPN/g, irrespective of TBC. In general, lots with the most number of days before the printed “use-by” date had lower TBC. However, the R2 values for either baby spinach (0.4085) or hearts of romaine (0.2946) suggest that age might not be a very good predictor of higher TBC. TBC varied widely between lots and even more so within same-lot samples, as indicated by the sum of squares results. This finding, along with higher TBC in bottom samples, suggests further consideration when a microbiological sampling scheme of bagged produce is designed.


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