Salmonella spp at critical points in organic vegetables production chain in the state of São Paulo: contribution for risk assessment

• Grant number: 17/00388-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• Start date: November 01, 2017
• End date: September 30, 2019
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Food Science and Technology - Food Science
• Principal Investigator: Bernadette Dora Gombossy de Melo Franco
• Grantee: Marcelo Belchior Rosendo da Silva
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas (FCF). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 13/07914-8 - FoRC - Food Research Center, AP.CEPID
• Associated scholarship(s): 18/20120-4 - Organic lettuce: effect of pre-harvest treatment with biological control agent and post-harvest storage conditions on the residual indigenous microbiota and survival of Salmonella spp., BE.EP.MS

Abstract

The consumption of vegetables is encouraged by health authorities around the world due to their health benefits. However, sanitary surveillance data in several countries point out an increasing association of vegetable consumption with outbreaks of foodborne diseases caused by pathogenic microorganisms. Organic practices in agriculture, such as use of animal manure and inadequate composting, may increase the possibility of contamination by enteric microorganisms such as Salmonella spp, increasing health risks for the consumer. This research project aims at a better understand the reality of organic agriculture in the State of São Paulo and generate data that may contribute to risk assessment associated with consumption of organic vegetables, focusing on Salmonella spp. The study will be carried out in ten fields of organic vegetables production located in the state of São Paulo, researching Salmonella spp. and indicators of fecal contamination (Enterobacteriaceae) in vegetables, fertilizers (manure) and irrigation water. Vegetables will be sampled directly from the soil and also at the moment of release for distribution and commercialization. Irrigation water will also be analyzed for potability (total coliforms and E. coli). Bacteria belonging to the Enterobacteriaceae family isolated from the samples will be submitted to identification (gender and species) using the MALDI-TOF-MS technique. Irrigation water samples will also be submitted to enumeration of total coliforms and E.coli. The Salmonella strains isolated from different samples will be submitted to clonal identity tests (PFGE) and serology, as indicators of possible routs of dissemination of the pathogen in the fields of production. This project will be developed within the scope of the Food Research Center (FoRC/FAPESP/CEPID 2013/07914-8) and project PROSA - Produce safety: a comparative analysis of consumer exposure to pathogens and extended spectrum ß-lactamases (ESBL) producing bacteria in different farming practices and climate zones (FAPESP/IDF- Denmark 2017, in elaboration), and will be supported by Dr. Michelle Danyluk,from University of Florida (USA) and Dr. Issao Ishimura, from Unidade de Pesquisa e Desenvolvimento em Agricultura Ecológica - APTA São Roque, Secretaria de Agricultura e Abastecimento de São Paulo. (AU)

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

MAFFEI, D. F.; MOREIRA, D. A.; SILVA, M. B. R.; FARIA, D. B.; SALDANA, E.; ISHIMURA, I.; LANDGRAF, M.; FRANCO, B. D. G. M.. Assessing the relationship between organic farming practices and microbiological characteristics of organic lettuce varieties (Lactuca sativa L.) grown in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Journal of Applied Microbiology, v. 127, n. 1, p. 237-247, JUL 2019. (16/24904-4, 17/00388-0, 16/09601-5, 13/07914-8)

SILVA, MARCELO BELCHIOR ROSENDO DA; MAFFEI, DANIELE FERNANDA; MOREIRA, DEBORA ANDRADE; DIAS, MERIELLEN; MENDES, MARIA ANITA; FRANCO, BERNADETTE DORA GOMBOSSY DE MELO. gricultural practices in Brazilian organic farms and microbiological characteristics of samples collected along the production chai. Journal of Applied Microbiology, v. 132, n. 2, AUG 2021. (13/07914-8, 17/00388-0)

Academic Publications

(References retrieved automatically from State of São Paulo Research Institutions)

SILVA, Marcelo Belchior Rosendo da. Salmonella spp. at critical points in organic vegetables production chain in the state of São Paulo: contribution for risk assessment. 2019. Master's Dissertation - Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Conjunto das Químicas (IQ e FCF) (CQ/DBDCQ) São Paulo.