Ecology, Transmission, and Control of Salmonella and Shigatoxin-producing E. coli in Integrated Crop-Livestock Farm
Project Director
Debabrata Biswas
Year Funded
2018
Award Number
2018-51106-28809
Funded Institution
University of Maryland
Grant Program
ORG (Organic Transitions)
USDA NIFA Report
Project Overview
Studies were conducted to characterize the occurrence and ecology of the foodborne pathogens Salmonella enterica (SE), shiga-toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC), and other pathogenic E. coli in organic integrated crop-livestock farms (ICLF) and to identify effective NOP-compliant antimicrobials and sanitary practices to minimize foodborne illness risk. Nearly 6,000 produce, animal, human skin, and environmental (manure, compost, pasture, etc) samples were collected from eight farms on the Eastern Shore of Maryland for microbiological analysis.
Farmer Takeaways
(1) ICLF farming systems that utilize composted or aged on-farm generated manure can enhance nutrient cycling, soil fertility, and crop production while reducing input costs.
(2) These systems entail significant risk of contamination of produce with pathogenic E. coli and Salmonella. Many antibiotic-resistant strains were found on organic ICLF farms.
(3) Worker hygiene and measures to avoid contact between animals or their manure and produce crops before, during, and after harvest can reduce risks.
(4) The 120-day waiting period between manure application and harvest of organic produce reduces but does not eliminate foodborne pathogens in amended soil.
(5) Adding blackberry or blueberry pomace extracts to produce wash water significantly reduces pathogen levels, and the solution can be used seven times without losing efficacy.
Project Outputs
Biswas Lab Mixed Farm Project Homepage | University of Maryland
Aditya, A., Tabashsum, Z., Alvarado-Martinez, Z., Tung, C. and Biswas, D. 2023. Diarrheagenic E. coli and Their Antibiotic Resistance Pattern in Dairy Farm and Its Microbial Ecosystems. Journal of Food Protection 86(3): 100051.
Alvarado-Martinez Z, Julianingsih D, Tabashsum Z, Aditya A, Tung C-W, Phung A, Suh G, Hshieh K, Wall M, Kapadia S, Canagarajah C, Maskey S, Sellers G, Scriba A and Biswas D. 2023 Assessment of the prevalence, serotype, and antibiotic resistance pattern of Salmonella enterica in integrated farming systems in the Maryland-DC area. Front. Microbiol. 14:1240458.
Goodwyn, B., Punchihewage, A., Millner, P., Meredith, F. Hashem, F., Biswas, D. and Parveen, S. 2023. Survival and Persistence of Indicator Bacteria and Foodborne Pathogens in Spatially Separated Integrated Crop-Livestock Farm Environments. Frontiers in Sustainability, Volume 7.
Peng, M., Tabashsum, Z., Miller, P., Parveen, S., and Biswas, D. 2021. Influence of Manure Application on the Soil Bacterial Microbiome in Integrated Crop-Livestock Farms in Maryland. Microorganisms 9(12): 2586.
Alvarado-Martinez, Z., Tabashsum, Z., Salaheen, S., Mui, C., Lebovic, A., Gaspard, S., Datillio, A., Young, A., Kennedy, N. and Biswas, D. 2020. Growth inhibition and alternation of virulence genes of Salmonella on produce products treated with polyphenolic extracts from berry pomace. J. Food Protection 83(8).