Quantification of Persistence of Escherichia coli O157:H7 in Contrasting Soils

Persistence of Escherichia coli (E. coli) O157:H7 in the environment is a major concern to vegetable and fruit growers where farms and livestock production are in close proximity. The objectives were to determine the effects of preplant fumigation treatment on the survival of E. coli O157:H7 in two...

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Main Authors: A. Mark Ibekwe, Sharon K. Papiernik, Catherine M. Grieve, Ching-Hong Yang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2011-01-01
Series:International Journal of Microbiology
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2011/421379
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author A. Mark Ibekwe
Sharon K. Papiernik
Catherine M. Grieve
Ching-Hong Yang
author_facet A. Mark Ibekwe
Sharon K. Papiernik
Catherine M. Grieve
Ching-Hong Yang
author_sort A. Mark Ibekwe
collection DOAJ
description Persistence of Escherichia coli (E. coli) O157:H7 in the environment is a major concern to vegetable and fruit growers where farms and livestock production are in close proximity. The objectives were to determine the effects of preplant fumigation treatment on the survival of E. coli O157:H7 in two soils and the effects of indigenous bacterial populations on the survival of this pathogen. Real-time PCR and plate counts were used to quantify the survival of E. coli O157:H7 in two contrasting soils after fumigation with methyl bromide (MeBr) and methyl iodide (MeI). Ten days after fumigation, E. coli O157:H7 counts were significantly lower (𝑃=.0001) in fumigated soils than in the non-fumigated. Direct comparison between MeBr and MeI within each soil indicated that these two fumigants showed similar impacts on E. coli O157:H7 survival. Microbial species diversity as determined by DGGE was significantly higher in clay soil than sandy soil and this resulted in higher initial decline in population in clay soil than in sandy soil. This study shows that if soil is contaminated with E. coli O157:H7, fumigation alone may not eliminate the pathogen, but may cause decrease in microbial diversity which may enhance the survival of the pathogen.
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spelling doaj-art-ae87d56a06d442c98547548616cd06e82025-02-03T00:58:54ZengWileyInternational Journal of Microbiology1687-918X1687-91982011-01-01201110.1155/2011/421379421379Quantification of Persistence of Escherichia coli O157:H7 in Contrasting SoilsA. Mark Ibekwe0Sharon K. Papiernik1Catherine M. Grieve2Ching-Hong Yang3USDA-ARS, U.S. Salinity Laboratory, 450 W-Big springs Roael, Riverside, CA 92507, USAUSDA-ARS, North Central Soil Conservation Research Laboratory, Morris, MN 56267, USAUSDA-ARS, U.S. Salinity Laboratory, 450 W-Big springs Roael, Riverside, CA 92507, USADepartment of Biological Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, WI 53211, USAPersistence of Escherichia coli (E. coli) O157:H7 in the environment is a major concern to vegetable and fruit growers where farms and livestock production are in close proximity. The objectives were to determine the effects of preplant fumigation treatment on the survival of E. coli O157:H7 in two soils and the effects of indigenous bacterial populations on the survival of this pathogen. Real-time PCR and plate counts were used to quantify the survival of E. coli O157:H7 in two contrasting soils after fumigation with methyl bromide (MeBr) and methyl iodide (MeI). Ten days after fumigation, E. coli O157:H7 counts were significantly lower (𝑃=.0001) in fumigated soils than in the non-fumigated. Direct comparison between MeBr and MeI within each soil indicated that these two fumigants showed similar impacts on E. coli O157:H7 survival. Microbial species diversity as determined by DGGE was significantly higher in clay soil than sandy soil and this resulted in higher initial decline in population in clay soil than in sandy soil. This study shows that if soil is contaminated with E. coli O157:H7, fumigation alone may not eliminate the pathogen, but may cause decrease in microbial diversity which may enhance the survival of the pathogen.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2011/421379
spellingShingle A. Mark Ibekwe
Sharon K. Papiernik
Catherine M. Grieve
Ching-Hong Yang
Quantification of Persistence of Escherichia coli O157:H7 in Contrasting Soils
International Journal of Microbiology
title Quantification of Persistence of Escherichia coli O157:H7 in Contrasting Soils
title_full Quantification of Persistence of Escherichia coli O157:H7 in Contrasting Soils
title_fullStr Quantification of Persistence of Escherichia coli O157:H7 in Contrasting Soils
title_full_unstemmed Quantification of Persistence of Escherichia coli O157:H7 in Contrasting Soils
title_short Quantification of Persistence of Escherichia coli O157:H7 in Contrasting Soils
title_sort quantification of persistence of escherichia coli o157 h7 in contrasting soils
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2011/421379
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AT sharonkpapiernik quantificationofpersistenceofescherichiacolio157h7incontrastingsoils
AT catherinemgrieve quantificationofpersistenceofescherichiacolio157h7incontrastingsoils
AT chinghongyang quantificationofpersistenceofescherichiacolio157h7incontrastingsoils