Prevalence and quantification of Vibrio parahaemolyticus in raw salad vegetables at retail level
The purpose of this study was to investigate the biosafety of Vibrio parahaemolyticus in raw salad vegetables at wet markets and supermarkets in Malaysia. A combination of the most probable number -polymerase chain reaction (MPN- PCR) method was applied to detect the presence of V. parahaemoly...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English English |
| Published: |
The Korean Society for Applied Microbiology
2010
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| Online Access: | http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/16326/ http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/16326/ http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/16326/1/Prevalence%20and%20quantification%20of%20Vibrio%20parahaemolyticus%20in%20raw%20salad%20vegetables%20at%20retail%20level.pdf |
| Summary: | The purpose of this study was to investigate the biosafety
of Vibrio parahaemolyticus in raw salad vegetables at wet
markets and supermarkets in Malaysia. A combination of the
most probable number -polymerase chain reaction (MPN-
PCR) method was applied to detect the presence of V.
parahaemolyticus and to enumerate their density in the
food samples. The study analyzed 276 samples of common
vegetables eaten raw in Malaysia (Wild cosmos=8; Japanese
parsley=21; Cabbage=30; Lettuce=16; Indian pennywort=17;
Carrot=31; Sweet potato=29; Tomato=38; Cucumber=28;
Four-winged bean=26; Long bean=32). The samples were
purchased from two supermarkets (A and B) and two wet
markets (C and D). The occurrence of V. parahaemolyticus
detected was 20.65%, with a higher frequency of V.
parahaemolyticus in vegetables obtained from wet markets
(Wet market C=27.27%; Wet Market D=32.05%) compared
with supermarkets (Supermarket A=1.64%; Supermarket
B=16.67%). V. parahaemolyticus was most prevalent in Indian
pennywort (41.18%). The density of V. parahaemolyticus
in all the samples ranged from <3 up to >2,400 MPN/g,
mostly <3 MPN/g concentration. Raw vegetables from wet
markets contained higher levels of V. parahaemolyticus
compared with supermarkets. Although V. parahaemolyticus
was present in raw vegetables, its numbers were low. The
results suggest that raw vegetables act as a transmission
route for V. parahaemolyticus. This study will be the first
biosafety assessment of V. parahaemolyticus in raw vegetables in Malaysia. |
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