PREVALENCE OF SHIGA TOXIN PRODUCING ESCHERICHIA COLI (STEC) IN THE STREET VENDED FRESH PRODUCE IN OGUN AND LAGOS STATES, NIGERIA

Abstract

Safety of fresh produce is a key issue of public health concern. Street vended fresh produce is readily available to people in Nigeria, but the safety and consistency of such fruits is always unknown and can be affected either by physical, biological and chemicals hazards. However, street vended fresh produce can be a source of transmission of food-borne diseases. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of Shiga toxin producing Escherichia coli in street- vended fruits in different areas of Lagos and Ogun state in NIGERIA. Isolation and Identification of associated pathogen with street-vended fresh produce (Lettuce watermelon, carrot, pawpaw, cabbage and cucumber) were performed using culture based (Plate method and Pour plate method) and molecular methods (Simple and multiplex PCR) to test the microbial load in the road sided fresh produce if they are saved for consumption. A total of 64 (n=64) samples were tested for the presence of STEC.It was observed that the microbial counts was very high in all the fresh produce sampled in different areas in Lagos and Ogun state, The existence of Shiga toxin-producing E. coli was confirmed by the presence of the stx1 virulence gene only in Magboro Watermelon, as validated by Multiplex PCR. The presence of virulence genes (stx1, stx2, and eae) were identified molecularly in twenty-one isolates (n = 21). The presumptive STEC total viable count (TVC) in the samples ranged from 4.5 to 7.8 log10cfu/g. The lettuce sampled from ibafo had the highest total viable counts. The presence of STEC, in fresh produce in Lagos and Ogun states is a public health concern which could lead to foodborne illnesses such as hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), food spoilage, food poisoning and a lack of safe and nutritious food