2001 Volume 18 Issue 1 Pages 9-14
Fresh vegetables were examined for bacterial contamination by standard plate count (SPC), Escherichia coli, enterohaemorrhagicE. coliO157 andSalmonellabetween August and November, 1998. A total of 299 vegetable samples including 37 white radishes, 29 carrots, 28 cabbages, 28 Japanese leeks, 32 lettuces, 29 cucumbers, 40 tomatoes, 28 onions, 32 white radish sprouts, 13 alfalfa sprouts, 1 salad lettuce, 1 spinach, and 1 bean sprout were got at some markets.
The SPC of the vegetables were widely distributed from <10 to 108cfu/g . In Particular, the SPC of alfalfa and white radish sprouts were high at 107cfu/g . AlthoughE. coliwas detected in a Japanese leek, enterohemorrhagicE. coliO157 was negative for all samples.SalmonellaO13, serotype Cubana was detected in one sample of alfalfa sprouts.
SalmonellaO13, serotype Cubana isolates of alfalfa sprouts were compared with 2 isolates of human carrier that were isolated during the same period in Tokyo . Antibiotic resistance patterns, plasmid profile and PFGE pattern after digestion with restriction enzymeXbaIandSpeIwere studied for epidemiological makers, but no significant relationship was found.
