Skip to main content
ARS Home » Northeast Area » Beltsville, Maryland (BARC) » Beltsville Agricultural Research Center » Environmental Microbial & Food Safety Laboratory » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #337554
Research Project: Characterization and Mitigation of Bacterial Pathogens in the Fresh Produce Production and Processing Continuum

Location: Environmental Microbial & Food Safety Laboratory

Title: Screening of non-traditional irrigation water sources for Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli in the mid-Atlantic region of the United States: a conserve study

Author
item HAYMAKER, JOSEPH - University Of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES)
item HASHEM, FAWZY - University Of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES)
item PARVEEN, SALINA - University Of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES)
item MAY, ERIC - University Of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES)
item Sharma, Manan
item SAPKOTA, AMY - University Of Maryland
item MICALLEF, SHIRLEY - University Of Maryland
item TABODI, MARYUM - University Of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES)
item WHITE, CHANNELLE - University Of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES)

Submitted to: International Association for Food Protection
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/17/2017
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Introduction: The exploration of nontraditional irrigation water sources (NTIWS) has become a national priority with regard to agricultural water security because of the severe stress climate variability has placed on traditional irrigation sources. NTIWS that are being analyzed for potential use on fresh produce are tidal and non-tidal surface water and reclaimed water. As a result of the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), agricultural producers must meet stricter guidelines regarding the quality of irrigation water used on fresh produce. Purpose: To evaluate the NTIWS for their physicochemical qualities and for the Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC). Methods: The physicochemical qualities (temperature, dissolved O2, conductivity, pH, turbidity, and other parameters) were measured using a YSI EXO2 Multi-Parameter Water Quality Sonde. A sampling device was constructed, developed, and implemented to filter 10 L of water from sources through a cheesecloth membrane. Sixty samples were collected periodically in fall 2016 from six sites; 48 samples were from four surface water sites (one tidal and three non-tidal) and 12 samples were from two reclaimed water sites. Cheesecloth filters were enriched, and the enriched broth was streaked on Chrom-STEC agar. Presumptive STEC colonies were confirmed using an 11-plex traditional PCR for serotypes (O26, O45, O103, O111, O121, O145) and stx1, stx2, eae, ehx and O157:H7. Results: The implementation of the sampling apparatus was successful and enhanced the efficiency of the sampling process. One non-tidal site contained two separate E. coli isolates which were positive for O45 and stx2 gene. Another non-tidal site had one E. coli positive for the stx1 gene. No samples were positive for O157:H7. No tidal or reclaimed water sites were positive for STEC genes. Significance: The sampling apparatus has the potential of greatly improving the sampling process of surface and reclaimed waters for bacterial detection. Sampling is ongoing and will continue for an additional three years.