Aggregative swab sampling method for romaine lettuce show similar quality indicators and microbial profiles compared to composite tissue samples in a pilot study

The practice of collecting preharvest leafy greens composite tissue samples produces few positive pathogen results. Aggregative sampling is potentially more representative. The purpose of this pilot study was to determine aggregative swabs’ ability to pick up quality indicators, to detect Escherichia coli, and determine if microbial profiles of swabs and tissues were similar. Aggregative swabs (n=12) and composite tissues (n=14) were collected from a one-acre commercial romaine lettuce field in Salinas, CA. Some field portions were inoculated with a rifampicin resistant E. coli cocktail. Aerobic plate counts (APC), coliform counts, and generic E. coli presence were determined using culture-based methods. Further identification of bacteria, their abundances, and microbial diversity of the samples were determined from microbial community profiling using full-length 16S rRNA sequencing. Recovery of APCs were 9.17±0.43 and 9.21±0.42 log(CFU/g) for tissues and swabs, respectively. Means and variance differences between sample types were insignificant (p=0.38 and p=0.92, respectively). Coliform recoveries were 3.80±0.76 and 4.19±1.15 log(CFU/g) for tissues and swabs, respectively. Means and variance differences between sample types were insignificant (p=0.30 and p=0.16, respectively). Presence of generic E. coli showed that swabs could detect E. coli more often than tissues with 8/12 swabs detecting E. coli compared to 3/14 tissues. Microbial profiling revealed that swabs and tissues have similar alpha diversities (p=0.75) and the most prevalent bacterial taxa in similar abundances. These data suggest aggregative swabs perform similar, if not better, than tissue samples in recovering quality and food safety indicators.

Name thesis:degree_name

M.S.

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Food Science & Human Nutrition

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2022

Author dc:creator

• Gathman, Rachel Jade

Contributors dc:contributor

• Stasiewicz, Matthew J
• Miller, Michael J
• Feng, Hao

• preharvest produce safety
• leafy greens
• microbial community
• food safety sampling

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright 2022 Rachel Gathman

Language dc:language

en, eng

Handle dc:identifier

https://hdl.handle.net/2142/115962

OAI record oai:identifier

https://www.ideals.illinois.edu/oai-pmh?verb=GetRecord&metadataPrefix=etdms&identifier=oai%3Awww.ideals.illinois.edu%3A2142%2F115962