| Summary, etc |
ABSTRACT<br/>Fresh produce constitutes a necessary part of the human diet, it provides essential vitamins, <br/>minerals, and fiber. However, the rising consumption of fresh produce has added to an elevated <br/>number of illness outbreaks around the world. Fresh produces are often consumed uncooked,<br/>therefore; there is increased risk if contaminated with pathogenic microorganisms like E. coli<br/>O157:H7 causing foodborne illness and in extreme cases death especially in children. In <br/>developing countries like Nigeria, fresh produce is purchased both in closed stores and road <br/>side open kiosk and on most occasions are not processed hygienically. This study evaluated <br/>the prevalence of Shiga toxin producing E. coli in varieties of fresh produce (Lettuce, Water <br/>Melon, Pineapple, Cucumber, Cabbage, Carrot and Pawpaw) from various roadside fruit <br/>vendors at different locations around the South-west region of Nigeria precisely Lagos and <br/>Ogun state. A total of 64 samples were tested for presence of E. coli using Sorbitol MacConkey <br/>Agar and MacConkey Agar plates. All samples had presumptive STEC, molecular <br/>identification of selected isolates (n = 21) for STEC virulence genes (stx1 stx2 and eae) using <br/>multiplex PCR was done. The total viable count (TVC) for presumptive STEC in the samples <br/>was in the range of 4.5 to 7.8 log10cfu/g. Lettuce from Ibafo had the highest total viable count. <br/>Using Multiplex PCR, stx1 gene was detected in some of the isolates which confirmed the <br/>presence of STEC in the fresh produce. The prevalence of STEC among the isolates (n = 21) <br/>was 4.8%. The presence of STEC and a very high microbial count of presumptive STEC poses <br/>a threat to public health which could lead to foodborne illnesses including hemorrhagic colitis <br/>(HC) or hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS).<br/>Key words: STEC, fresh produce, food borne disease, virulence gene, HUS.<br/> |
