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ABSTRACT<br/>Safety of fresh produce is a key issue of public health concern. Street vended fresh produce is <br/>readily available to people in Nigeria, but the safety and consistency of such fruits is always <br/>unknown and can be affected either by physical, biological and chemicals hazards. However, street<br/>vended fresh produce can be a source of transmission of food-borne diseases. The aim of this study <br/>was to determine the prevalence of Shiga toxin producing Escherichia coli in street- vended fruits <br/>in different areas of Lagos and Ogun state in NIGERIA. Isolation and Identification of associated<br/>pathogen with street-vended fresh produce (Lettuce watermelon, carrot, pawpaw, cabbage and <br/>cucumber) were performed using culture based (Plate method and Pour plate method) and <br/>molecular methods (Simple and multiplex PCR) to test the microbial load in the road sided fresh <br/>produce if they are saved for consumption. A total of 64 (n=64) samples were tested for the <br/>presence of STEC.It was observed that the microbial counts was very high in all the fresh produce <br/>sampled in different areas in Lagos and Ogun state, The existence of Shiga toxin-producing E. coli<br/>was confirmed by the presence of the stx1 virulence gene only in Magboro Watermelon, as <br/>validated by Multiplex PCR. The presence of virulence genes (stx1, stx2, and eae) were identified <br/>molecularly in twenty-one isolates (n = 21). The presumptive STEC total viable count (TVC) in <br/>the samples ranged from 4.5 to 7.8 log10cfu/g. The lettuce sampled from ibafo had the highest<br/>total viable counts. The presence of STEC, in fresh produce in Lagos and Ogun states is a public <br/>health concern which could lead to foodborne illnesses such as hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), <br/>food spoilage, food poisoning and a lack of safe and nutritious food.<br/> |
