Pevalance of enterotoxic E. coli in raw vegetables and sprouts sold in markets of Goa Musale Vishal1, Kale Satyajit2, Raorane Abhay1, Doijad Swapnil1,*, Barbuddhe Sukhadeo3 1ICAR Research Complex for Goa, Ela, Old Goa, Goa, India-403402 2Departments of Microbiology, Goa University, Goa, India-403206 3National Institute of Biotic Stress Management, Raipur, Chhattisgarh, India-492012 *Corresponding author E-mail: swapnil.doijad@gmail.com
Online published on 21 March, 2015. Abstract Background of the study The infection of E. coli has been associated with the consumption of a number of raw vegetables and sprouts. Since last decade the raw vegetable and sprouts have been revealed as a potential source for the transmission of E. coli. Method A preliminary study was carried out to determine the incidences of E. coliin raw vegetables and sprouts sold in local markets of Goa. A total of 110 samples (raw vegetables, n=65 and sprouts, n=45) were collected from local vendors and investigated for prevalence of pathogenic E. coli. The samples were processed as per the method defined by ISO-16654 to isolate E. coli that has optimised particularly for leafy vegetables. Isolate were further studied for their in-vitro pathogenic potential by detecting the heat-labile enterotoxin (lth) gene. Result A total of 45 (40.90%) presumptive E. coli isolates were obtained which were further confirmed by their morphological and biochemical characterisation. Out of 45 E. coli, 21 (46.66%) showed haemolysis on 5% sheep blood agar. The haemolytic isolates were further tested for their pathogenic potential in-vitro, by screening the lth gene. The lth gene was present in 15 (71.42%) of the haemolytic E. coli isolates. Conclusion From this study it can be inferred that, potentially pathogenic E. coli are prevalent in raw vegetables and sprouts sold in local markets of Goa. It can be concluded that the marketed sprouts are of poor microbiological quality. Presence of such pathogens in day-to-day food is matter of concern. Top Keywords ETEC E. coli, vegetables, sprouts, heal labile enterotoxin. Top |