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Masters Thesis Final.pdf (1016.48 KB)

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Airborne Transport of Foodborne Pathogens from Bovine Manure to Vegetable Surfaces

DeNiro, Julia L
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1376925440

Abstract Details

2013, Master of Science, Ohio State University, Environmental Science.
Contamination of produce is a critical food safety issue and may result from airborne bacteria transmitted during manure application. We conducted a field experiment to determine the distance pathogens can be transferred by air during manure application, and the survival of the pathogens on produce. Romaine lettuce and slicing tomatoes were planted in rows in plots (8 m2) that were arranged in a completely random design. Liquid dairy manure was spread in a 5-m-wide band next to and perpendicular to the end of the rows. Agar plates, located 24 cm above the ground and at the point nearest the manure spreading (0 m downwind), 15, 30, and 122 m downwind, and 15 m upwind, were left open for 5-15 min after application. Lettuce leaves and tomato fruits were collected before and 15 min after application, then on post application days 1, 3, 5, and 7. Vegetable samples were agitated with PBS, and the resulting solutions were plated. All plates were incubated at 37°C for 36 h, and bacterial colonies (CFU/ml) were counted. The number of airborne bacteria on open agar plates was highest at 0 m downwind. Bacteria decreased between 0 and 30 m downwind (P<0.05). Number of bacteria was consistently higher on lettuce leaves than on tomato fruits (P<0.001). Counts on lettuceleaves often peaked on Day 5 (P<0.05); counts on tomato fruits peaked on Day 7 (P<0.001). Low temperature, high relative humidity, and high rainfall may have contributed to high bacteria counts on vegetables (P<0.001). From this study’s results, we can infer that airborne bacteria transport from liquid manure decreases between 0 and 30 m downwind, that survival of bacteria on vegetables may be related to weather conditions, and that lettuce leaves may capture more airborne bacteria than tomato fruits. Our research provides evidence that spreading of liquid dairy manure closer than 122 m to a vegetable field may contribute to contamination of field-grown produce.
Douglas Doohan (Advisor)
Jeffrey Lejeune (Committee Co-Chair)
Richard Moore (Committee Member)
60 p.
Food Science; Horticulture; Microbiology
manure; airborne; produce; food safety; leafy greens; tomato; bacteria; pathogens

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • DeNiro, J. L. (2013). Airborne Transport of Foodborne Pathogens from Bovine Manure to Vegetable Surfaces [Master's thesis, Ohio State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1376925440

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • DeNiro, Julia. Airborne Transport of Foodborne Pathogens from Bovine Manure to Vegetable Surfaces. 2013. Ohio State University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1376925440.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • DeNiro, Julia. "Airborne Transport of Foodborne Pathogens from Bovine Manure to Vegetable Surfaces." Master's thesis, Ohio State University, 2013. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1376925440

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

osu1376925440
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This open access ETD is published by The Ohio State University and OhioLINK.