Prevelance of total coliforms, faecal coliforms and <i>E. coli</i>in Rawalpindi vegetable markets  

作　　者：Sadia Alam Samina Khalil Najma Ayub Abida Bibi Beena Saeed Salma Khalid Sumaira Siddiq 

机构地区：[1]Department of Agriculture, Abdul Wali Khan University, Mardan, Pakistan [2]Department of Biotechnology, Abdul Wali Khan University, Mardan, Pakistan [3]Department of Environmental Sciences, Abdul Wali Khan University, Mardan, Pakistan [4]Department of Microbiology, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, Pakistan [5]Department of Microbiology, University of Haripur, Haripur, Pakistan [6]IFood Quality Programme, National Agriculture Research Centre, Islamabad, Pakistan

出　　处：《Natural Science》2013年第12期1298-1304,共7页自然科学期刊（英文）

摘　　要：Nutritional value of vegetables and high prices of meat and meat originated food compel common people to consume plant originated food particularly salad vegetables. Microbial population of vegetable surfaces contains a large number of pathogenic bacteria including members of Enterobactereace like Escherichia coli (E. coli). A survey was conducted in three major markets of Rawalpindi, Pakistan. Tomato, lettuce, cabbage and cucumber samples were collected from three shops of each market. Each vegetable was analysed as unwashed and washed for total coliforms, faecal coliforms and E. coli by FAO (Food Quality Manual). About two hundred and fifty E. coli isolates were preserved, serotyped for presence of O157 serotype. Total coliforms, faecal coliforms and E. coli count exceeded the permissible limits in most samples. The highest Total coliforms were associated with cabbage (3.78 log10 cfu/g). Cucumber was the least contaminated by Total coliforms (2.15 log10 cfu/g). E. coli was detected in tomato, lettuce, cucumber and cabbage. Washed samples showed reduced bacterial population. Seventy six isolates of E. coli were biochemically characterized and serotyped for O157 antigen. A majority of strains could not be identified by serotyping. These findings conclude with high potentially pathogenic microbial load on salad vegetables and urge for preventive action on priority basis.Nutritional value of vegetables and high prices of meat and meat originated food compel common people to consume plant originated food particularly salad vegetables. Microbial population of vegetable surfaces contains a large number of pathogenic bacteria including members of Enterobactereace like Escherichia coli (E. coli). A survey was conducted in three major markets of Rawalpindi, Pakistan. Tomato, lettuce, cabbage and cucumber samples were collected from three shops of each market. Each vegetable was analysed as unwashed and washed for total coliforms, faecal coliforms and E. coli by FAO (Food Quality Manual). About two hundred and fifty E. coli isolates were preserved, serotyped for presence of O157 serotype. Total coliforms, faecal coliforms and E. coli count exceeded the permissible limits in most samples. The highest Total coliforms were associated with cabbage (3.78 log10 cfu/g). Cucumber was the least contaminated by Total coliforms (2.15 log10 cfu/g). E. coli was detected in tomato, lettuce, cucumber and cabbage. Washed samples showed reduced bacterial population. Seventy six isolates of E. coli were biochemically characterized and serotyped for O157 antigen. A majority of strains could not be identified by serotyping. These findings conclude with high potentially pathogenic microbial load on salad vegetables and urge for preventive action on priority basis.

关 键 词：ESCHERICHIA COLI Total COLIFORMS Fecal COLIFORMS Vegetables SEROTYPING Microbial Population 

分 类 号：R73[医药卫生—肿瘤]