title: Automated detection of fecal contamination of apples by multispectral laser-induced fluorescence imaging.
abstract: Animal feces are a suspected source of contamination of apples by disease-causing organisms such as Echerichia coli O157. Laser-induced fluorescence was used to detect different amounts of feces from dairy cows, deer, and a dairy pasture applied to Red Delicious apples. One day after application, detection for 1:2 and 1:20 dilutions was nearly 100%, and for 1:200 dilutions (<15 ng of dry matter) detection was >80%. Detection after apples had been washed and brushed was lowest for pasture feces; detection for 1:2, 1:20, and 1:200 dilutions of feces was 100%, 30%, and 0%, respectively. This technology may encourage development of commercial systems for detecting fecal contamination of apples.
authors.affiliation: Instrumentation and Sensing Laboratory, U.S. Department of Agricultural Research Service, Building 303, Powder Mill Road, Beltsville, Maryland 20705, USA. alefcour@anri.barc.usda.gov
authors.forename: Alan M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Lefcourt
authors.forename: Moon S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Yud-Ren
authors.initials: YR
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D003116:Color; D004203:Disinfection / Q000379:methods; D004867:Equipment Design; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005243:Feces / Q000737:chemistry*; D005506:Food Contamination / Q000032:analysis*; D005511:Food Handling / Q000379:methods; D005638:Fruit / Q000737:chemistry*; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D007834:Lasers; D027845:Malus / Q000737:chemistry*; D011786:Quality Control; D012016:Reference Values; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013050:Spectrometry, Fluorescence / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods