title: Occurrence and characterization of food-borne pathogens isolated from fruit, vegetables and sprouts retailed in the Czech Republic.
abstract: Food of non-animal origin is a major component of the human diet and has been considered to pose a low risk from the point of view of bacteriological safety. However, an increase in the number of outbreaks of illness caused by such pathogens and linked to the consumption of fresh fruit and vegetables have been reported from around the world recently. Salmonella spp., STEC (Shiga toxin producing Escherichia coli) and Listeria monocytogenes are among the most frequently identified agents. Additionally, the transmission of antibiotic resistant strains including also the methicillin resistant S. aureus (MRSA) to humans via the food chain is one of the greatest public health problems being confronted today. Therefore, we focused on the bacterial safety of fruit, vegetables and sprouts on sale in the Czech Republic. One strain (0.3%) of Salmonella Enteritidis phage type PT8, one strain (0.3%) of MRSA and 17 strains (5.0%) of L. monocytogenes were isolated from a total of 339 collected samples. The most problematic commodities were frozen fruit and vegetables (packed and unpacked) and fresh-cut vegetables. Our findings indicate deficiencies in hygiene practices during harvesting, processing and distribution of these commodities. Although sprouts and berries are the most likely to be contaminated by human pathogens, only two samples were positive for the presence of L. monocytogenes.
authors.affiliation: Veterinary Research Institute, Department of Bacteriology, Hudcova 296/70, 621 00, Brno, Czechia.
authors.forename: Hana
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Vojkovská
authors.affiliation: Veterinary Research Institute, Department of Bacteriology, Hudcova 296/70, 621 00, Brno, Czechia.
authors.forename: Petra
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Myšková
authors.affiliation: Veterinary Research Institute, Department of Bacteriology, Hudcova 296/70, 621 00, Brno, Czechia.
authors.forename: Tereza
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Gelbíčová
authors.affiliation: Veterinary Research Institute, Department of Bacteriology, Hudcova 296/70, 621 00, Brno, Czechia.
authors.forename: Alena
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Skočková
authors.affiliation: Veterinary Research Institute, Department of Bacteriology, Hudcova 296/70, 621 00, Brno, Czechia.
authors.forename: Ivana
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Koláčková
authors.affiliation: Veterinary Research Institute, Department of Bacteriology, Hudcova 296/70, 621 00, Brno, Czechia. Electronic address: karpiskova@vri.cz.
authors.forename: Renáta
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Karpíšková
mesh_terms: D001419:Bacteria / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D015373:Bacterial Typing Techniques; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D018153:Czech Republic; D019453:Escherichia coli O157 / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005516:Food Microbiology; D059022:Food Safety; D005638:Fruit / Q000382:microbiology*; D006801:Humans; D008089:Listeria monocytogenes / Q000302:isolation & purification; D055624:Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012477:Salmonella enteritidis / Q000302:isolation & purification; D036226:Seedlings / Q000382:microbiology*; D054323:Shiga-Toxigenic Escherichia coli / Q000302:isolation & purification; D014675:Vegetables / Q000382:microbiology*
keywords: Foodborne; Listeria monocytogenes; MRSA; STEC; Salmonella