Levels of Salmonella enterica and Listeria monocytogenes in Alternative Irrigation Water Vary Based on Water Source on the Eastern Shore of Maryland

Chanelle L. Acheamfour; Salina Parveen; Fawzy Hashem; Manan Sharma; Megan E. Gerdes; Eric B. May; Koriante Rogers; Joseph Haymaker; Rico Duncan; Derek Foust; Maryam Taabodi; Eric T. Handy; Cheryl East; Rhodel Bradshaw; Seongyun Kim; Shirley A. Micallef; Mary Theresa Callahan; Sarah Allard; Brienna Anderson-Coughlin; Shani Craighead; Samantha Gartley; Adam Vanore; Kalmia E. Kniel; Sultana Solaiman; Anthony Bui; Rianna Murray; Hillary A. Craddock; Prachi Kulkarni; Rachel E. Rosenberg Goldstein; Amy R. Sapkota

doi:10.1128/Spectrum.00669-21

Microbiology Spectrum (Oct 2021)

Levels of Salmonella enterica and Listeria monocytogenes in Alternative Irrigation Water Vary Based on Water Source on the Eastern Shore of Maryland

Chanelle L. Acheamfour,
Salina Parveen,
Fawzy Hashem,
Manan Sharma,
Megan E. Gerdes,
Eric B. May,
Koriante Rogers,
Joseph Haymaker,
Rico Duncan,
Derek Foust,
Maryam Taabodi,
Eric T. Handy,
Cheryl East,
Rhodel Bradshaw,
Seongyun Kim,
Shirley A. Micallef,
Mary Theresa Callahan,
Sarah Allard,
Brienna Anderson-Coughlin,
Shani Craighead,
Samantha Gartley,
Adam Vanore,
Kalmia E. Kniel,
Sultana Solaiman,
Anthony Bui,
Rianna Murray,
Hillary A. Craddock,
Prachi Kulkarni,
Rachel E. Rosenberg Goldstein,
Amy R. Sapkota

Affiliations

Chanelle L. Acheamfour: Department of Agriculture, Food, and Resource Sciences, University of Maryland Eastern Shore, Princess Anne, Maryland, USA
Salina Parveen: Department of Agriculture, Food, and Resource Sciences, University of Maryland Eastern Shore, Princess Anne, Maryland, USA
Fawzy Hashem: Department of Agriculture, Food, and Resource Sciences, University of Maryland Eastern Shore, Princess Anne, Maryland, USA
Manan Sharma: United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, Environmental Microbial and Food Safety Laboratory, Beltsville, Maryland, USA
Megan E. Gerdes: Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of Maryland School of Public Health, College Park, Maryland, USA
Eric B. May: Department of Natural Sciences, University of Maryland Eastern Shore, Princess Anne, Maryland, USA
Koriante Rogers: Department of Agriculture, Food, and Resource Sciences, University of Maryland Eastern Shore, Princess Anne, Maryland, USA
Joseph Haymaker: Department of Agriculture, Food, and Resource Sciences, University of Maryland Eastern Shore, Princess Anne, Maryland, USA
Rico Duncan: Department of Agriculture, Food, and Resource Sciences, University of Maryland Eastern Shore, Princess Anne, Maryland, USA
Derek Foust: Department of Agriculture, Food, and Resource Sciences, University of Maryland Eastern Shore, Princess Anne, Maryland, USA
Maryam Taabodi: Department of Natural Sciences, University of Maryland Eastern Shore, Princess Anne, Maryland, USA
Eric T. Handy: United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, Environmental Microbial and Food Safety Laboratory, Beltsville, Maryland, USA
Cheryl East: United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, Environmental Microbial and Food Safety Laboratory, Beltsville, Maryland, USA
Rhodel Bradshaw: United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, Environmental Microbial and Food Safety Laboratory, Beltsville, Maryland, USA
Seongyun Kim: United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, Environmental Microbial and Food Safety Laboratory, Beltsville, Maryland, USA
Shirley A. Micallef: Department of Plant Science and Landscape Architecture, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, USA
Mary Theresa Callahan: Department of Plant Science and Landscape Architecture, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, USA
Sarah Allard: Maryland Institute for Applied Environmental Health, University of Maryland School of Public Health, College Park, Maryland, USA
Brienna Anderson-Coughlin: Department of Animal and Food Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware, USA
Shani Craighead: Department of Animal and Food Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware, USA
Samantha Gartley: Department of Animal and Food Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware, USA
Adam Vanore: Department of Animal and Food Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware, USA
Kalmia E. Kniel: Department of Animal and Food Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware, USA
Sultana Solaiman: Department of Plant Science and Landscape Architecture, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, USA
Anthony Bui: Maryland Institute for Applied Environmental Health, University of Maryland School of Public Health, College Park, Maryland, USA
Rianna Murray: Maryland Institute for Applied Environmental Health, University of Maryland School of Public Health, College Park, Maryland, USA
Hillary A. Craddock: Maryland Institute for Applied Environmental Health, University of Maryland School of Public Health, College Park, Maryland, USA
Prachi Kulkarni: Maryland Institute for Applied Environmental Health, University of Maryland School of Public Health, College Park, Maryland, USA
Rachel E. Rosenberg Goldstein: Maryland Institute for Applied Environmental Health, University of Maryland School of Public Health, College Park, Maryland, USA
Amy R. Sapkota: Maryland Institute for Applied Environmental Health, University of Maryland School of Public Health, College Park, Maryland, USA

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1128/Spectrum.00669-21
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 9, no. 2

Abstract

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ABSTRACT Irrigation water sources have been shown to harbor foodborne pathogens and could contribute to the outbreak of foodborne illness related to consumption of contaminated produce. Determining the probability of and the degree to which these irrigation water sources contain these pathogens is paramount. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of Salmonella enterica and Listeria monocytogenes in alternative irrigation water sources. Water samples (n = 188) were collected over 2 years (2016 to 2018) from 2 reclaimed water plants, 3 nontidal freshwater rivers, and 1 tidal brackish river on Maryland’s Eastern Shore (ESM). Samples were collected by filtration using modified Moore swabs (MMS) and analyzed by culture methods. Pathogen levels were quantified using a modified most probable number (MPN) procedure with three different volumes (10 liters, 1 liter, and 0.1 liter). Overall, 65% (122/188) and 40% (76/188) of water samples were positive for S. enterica and L. monocytogenes, respectively. For both pathogens, MPN values ranged from 0.015 to 11 MPN/liter. Pathogen levels (MPN/liter) were significantly (P < 0.05) greater for the nontidal freshwater river sites and the tidal brackish river site than the reclaimed water sites. L. monocytogenes levels in water varied based on season. Detection of S. enterica was more likely with 10-liter filtration compared to 0.1-liter filtration. The physicochemical factors measured attributed only 6.4% of the constrained variance to the levels of both pathogens. This study shows clear variations in S. enterica and L. monocytogenes levels in irrigation water sources on ESM. IMPORTANCE In the last several decades, Maryland’s Eastern Shore has seen significant declines in groundwater levels. While this area is not currently experiencing drought conditions or water scarcity, this research represents a proactive approach. Efforts, to investigate the levels of pathogenic bacteria and the microbial quality of alternative irrigation water are important for sustainable irrigation practices into the future. This research will be used to determine the suitability of alternative irrigation water sources for use in fresh produce irrigation to conserve groundwater.

Published in Microbiology Spectrum

ISSN: 2165-0497 (Online)
Publisher: American Society for Microbiology
Country of publisher: United States
LCC subjects: Science: Microbiology
Website: https://journals.asm.org/journal/spectrum

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