title: Behavior of non-O157 Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli, enteroinvasive E. coli, enteropathogenic E. coli, and enterotoxigenic E. coli strains on alfalfa sprouts.
abstract: Data about the behavior of non-O157 Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (non-O157 STEC), enteroinvasive E. coli (EIEC), enterotoxigenic E. coli (ETEC), and enteropathogenic E. coli (EPEC) on seeds and alfalfa sprouts are not available. The behavior of STEC, EIEC, ETEC, and EPEC was determined during germination and sprouting of alfalfa seeds at 20 ± 2°C and 30 ± 2°C and on alfalfa sprouts at 3 ± 2°C. When alfalfa seeds were inoculated with STEC, EIEC, ETEC, or EPEC strains, all these diarrheagenic E. coli pathotypes (DEPs) grew during germination and sprouting of seeds, reaching counts of approximately 5 and 6 log CFU/g after 1 day at 20 ± 2°C and 30 ± 2°C, respectively. However, when the sprouts were inoculated after 1 day of seed germination and stored at 20 ± 2°C or 30 ± 2°C, no growth was observed for any DEP during sprouting at 20 ± 2°C or 30 ± 2°C for 9 days. Refrigeration reduced significantly (P < 0.0.5) the number of viable DEPs on sprouts after 20 days in storage; nevertheless, these decreases have no practical significance for the safety of the sprouts.
authors.affiliation: Centro de Investigaciones Químicas, Instituto de Ciencias Básicas e Ingeniería, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Hidalgo, Centro Universitario, Carretera Pachuca-Tulancingo Km. 4.5, Mineral de la Reforma, Hidalgo, C.P. 42183, Mexico.
authors.forename: Carlos A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Gómez-Aldapa
authors.forename: Esmeralda
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Rangel-Vargas
authors.forename: M Del Refugio
authors.initials: Mdel R
authors.lastname: Torres-Vitela
authors.forename: Angélica
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Villarruel-López
authors.forename: Javier
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Castro-Rosas
mesh_terms: D003257:Consumer Product Safety; D054308:Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli / Q000502:physiology; D054307:Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli / Q000502:physiology; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000502:physiology*; D019453:Escherichia coli O157 / Q000502:physiology; D005511:Food Handling / Q000379:methods*; D005516:Food Microbiology; D018525:Germination / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D000455:Medicago sativa / Q000254:growth & development / Q000382:microbiology*; D012639:Seeds / Q000254:growth & development; D054323:Shiga-Toxigenic Escherichia coli / Q000502:physiology; D014675:Vegetables / Q000254:growth & development / Q000382:microbiology