Listeria monocytogenes in irrigation water: an assessment of outbreaks, sources, prevalence, and persistence

Authors: GARTLEY, SAMANTHA - University Of Delaware; ANDERSON-COUGHLIN, BRIENNA - University Of Delaware; Sharma, Manan; KNIEL, KALMIA - University Of Delaware

Submitted to: Microorganisms
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/28/2022
Publication Date: 6/30/2022
Citation: Gartley, S., Anderson-Coughlin, B., Sharma, M., Kniel, K.E. 2022. Listeria monocytogenes in irrigation water: an assessment of outbreaks, sources, prevalence, and persistence. Microorganisms. https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms10071319.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms10071319

Interpretive Summary: The production of highly quality, safe and nutritious produce is, in part, dependent on the use of irrigation water that will introduce foodborne pathogens to fruits and vegetables. As agricultural production moves to different environments (controlled environment agriculture, urban garden, rooftop gardens, etc.), irrigation water may be provided from different sources (recycled water, rainwater, surface water, etc). Listeria monocytogenes is a bacterial foodborne pathogen that has caused fatal outbreaks through contaminated produce in the U.S. Understanding environmental and physicochemical factors in water that affect the prevalence of L. monocytogenes is essential to improving the quality of irrigation water. Further understanding the infectivity of L. monocytogenes through its contamination continuum will also aid in providing more wholesome produce. This review article addresses these factors affecting L. monocytogenes survival and prevalence in irrigation water. This work helps farmers and regulators understand the risks presented to produce by L. monocytogenes in contaminated irrigation water.

Technical Abstract: The production of highly quality, safe and nutritious produce is, in part, dependent on the use of irrigation water that will introduce foodborne pathogens to fruits and vegetables. As agricultural production moves to different environments (controlled environment agriculture, urban garden, rooftop gardens, etc.), irrigation water may be provided from different sources (recycled water, rainwater, surface water, etc). Listeria monocytogenes is a bacterial foodborne pathogen that has caused fatal outbreaks through contaminated produce in the U.S. Understanding environmental and physicochemical factors in water that affect the prevalence of L. monocytogenes is essential to improving the quality of irrigation water. Further understanding the infectivity of L. monocytogenes through its contamination continuum will also aid in providing more wholesome produce. This review article addresses these factors affecting L. monocytogenes survival and prevalence in irrigation water. This work helps farmers and regulators understand the risks presented to produce by L. monocytogenes in contaminated irrigation water.