2005, Number 4
Identification of Salmonella spp in water, cantaloupe melons and iguanas' feces in a melon orchard
Figueroa AGA, González RM, Alejandro Molina GA, Yáñez GR, Espinoza NJ, Serna EMC, Carranza MJ
Full text
Language: Spanish
References: 7
Page: 255-258
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ABSTRACT
Background: Recent outbreaks of foodborne Salmonella infections have been reported in the United States and Canada, associated with melon consumption, primarily cantaloupe imported from Mexico. Salmonella serotype poona is isolated from nonhuman sources such as reptiles, in particular from turtles and iguanas.Objective: To identify Salmonella spp in water samples, cantaloupe melons and iguanas in a melon orchard.
Material and methods: Four visits to a melon orchard were made, 38 samples of melons were evaluated, lees and related agricultural implements were studied, in which Escherichia coli and fecal coliforms counts were made by the most-probable-number method; the detection of Salmonella spp was made by means of pre-enrichment in lactose broth, enrichment in Rappaport- Vassiliadis and tetrathionate broth, poured in plates of XLD agar, Hektoen enteric agar, SS and bismuth sulfite agar, and biochemical identification in TSI, LIA, MIO agar and urea was carried out, by agglutinating particles in the polyvalent antiserum. Serum typification was made in the National Laboratory of Public Health.
Results: Salmonella spp was identified in 12 samples, it was not isolated from any other melon; isolated serotypes were: S. poona, S infantis and S. anatum.
Conclusions: Since there were various sources of contamination, it is necessary to apply good sanitary and agricultural practices in order to obtain non-contaminated fruits suitable for exportation.
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