Zeynudin Ahmed, Degefa Teshome, Belay Tariku, Mumicha Jiru Batu, Husen Abdusemed, Yasin Jafer, Abamecha Abdulhakim, Wieser Andreas, Abayneh Mengistu
School of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Institute of Health, Jimma University, Jimma, Ethiopia.
Gumay Woreda Health Office, Jimma, Ethiopia.
One Health Outlook. 2025 Feb 1;7(1):2. doi: 10.1186/s42522-024-00125-5.
Despite of the health benefits of consumption of fresh vegetables and fruits, this product could be associated with food-borne bacterial pathogens, including infections with antibiotic-resistant strains especially in developing countries due to limited in knowledge, and hygienic practices. This study was conducted to provide evidence data on the rates of Salmonella spp. and E. coli O157:H7 contamination, the antimicrobial resistance profile, and extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing strains in fresh vegetables and fruits sold in open-air markets at Jimma town, southwest Ethiopia. In addition, this study provided data on the hygiene and handling practices of vendors, which can help as impute to improve food safety and safeguard public health. A total of 242 salad samples were collected from three different kebeles and examined for the presence of Salmonella spp. and E. coli O157:H7 in the microbiology laboratory of Jimma University by using conventional microbiological techniques.
Out of 242 samples tested, 12.8% (31/242) were contaminated with Salmonella spp. and E. coli O157. Of these, Salmonella spp. was detected in 10.7% (26/242) of the tested samples, whereas Escherichia coli O157:H7 was found in 2.1% (5/242) of samples. Fifty-three-point-8% of Salmonella spp. were resistant to ampicillin, 42.3% to co-trimoxazole, 46.2% to tetracycline, and 26.9% resistance was observed against each of ceftriaxone and cefotaxime. 40% of E. coli O157:H7 isolates were resistant against ampicillin, amoxicillin-clavulanic acid, and co-trimoxazole. Only one isolate was resistant to ceftriaxone and cefotaxime, and no resistance was observed against ceftazidime, gentamicin, ciprofloxacin, chloramphenicol, and meropenem. Four Salmonella spp. and one E. coli O157:H7 isolate with a total of 5/31 (16.1%) isolates were confirmed as the ESBL producers. Multidrug resistance (MDR) was detected in 23.1% of Salmonella and 20.0% of E. coli O157:H7. Hygienic and handling practices of vendors were poor, which could contribute to contamination of vegetables and fruits in the area.
Contamination of fresh salad vegetables with pathogenic bacteria could be a food safety concern in the study area. Hence, this finding suggests the need for attention by the concerned bodies to prevent the emergence and transmission of food-borne pathogens and antimicrobial-resistant strains through these food items in the study area.
尽管食用新鲜蔬菜和水果对健康有益，但该产品可能与食源性病原体有关，包括感染耐药菌株，特别是在发展中国家，由于知识有限以及卫生习惯问题。本研究旨在提供关于埃塞俄比亚西南部吉马镇露天市场销售的新鲜蔬菜和水果中沙门氏菌属和大肠杆菌O157:H7污染率、抗菌药物耐药谱以及产超广谱β-内酰胺酶（ESBL）菌株的证据数据。此外，本研究还提供了摊贩的卫生和处理习惯数据，这有助于归因于改善食品安全和保障公众健康。总共从三个不同的社区收集了242份沙拉样本，并在吉马大学微生物实验室使用传统微生物技术检测沙门氏菌属和大肠杆菌O157:H7的存在情况。
在测试的242个样本中，12.8%（31/242）被沙门氏菌属和大肠杆菌O157污染。其中，在10.7%（26/242）的测试样本中检测到沙门氏菌属，而在2.1%（5/242）的样本中发现了大肠杆菌O157:H7。53.8%的沙门氏菌属对氨苄西林耐药，42.3%对复方新诺明耐药，46.2%对四环素耐药，对头孢曲松和头孢噻肟的耐药率均为26.9%。40%的大肠杆菌O157:H7分离株对氨苄西林、阿莫西林-克拉维酸和复方新诺明耐药。仅1株分离株对头孢曲松和头孢噻肟耐药，对头孢他啶、庆大霉素、环丙沙星、氯霉素和美罗培南未观察到耐药。4株沙门氏菌属和1株大肠杆菌O157:H7分离株，共5/31（16.1%）分离株被确认为产ESBL菌株。在23.1%的沙门氏菌和20.0%的大肠杆菌O157:H7中检测到多重耐药（MDR）。摊贩的卫生和处理习惯较差，这可能导致该地区蔬菜和水果受到污染。
在研究区域，新鲜沙拉蔬菜被病原菌污染可能是一个食品安全问题。因此，这一发现表明相关机构需要予以关注，以防止食源性病原体和耐药菌株通过这些食品在研究区域出现和传播。
