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Applied and Environmental Microbiology, May 2005, p. 2433-2437, Vol. 71, No. 5
0099-2240/05/$08.00+0     doi:10.1128/AEM.71.5.2433-2437.2005
Copyright © 2005, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Potential Role of Diploscapter sp. Strain LKC25, a Bacterivorous Nematode from Soil, as a Vector of Food-Borne Pathogenic Bacteria to Preharvest Fruits and Vegetables

Daunte S. Gibbs,1 Gary L. Anderson,1 Larry R. Beuchat,2 Lynn K. Carta,3 and Phillip L. Williams1*

Department of Environmental Health Science, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia 30602,1 Center for Food Safety and Department of Food Science and Technology, University of Georgia, Griffin, Georgia 30223,2 Nematology Laboratory, U.S. Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service, Beltsville, Maryland 207053

Received 11 June 2004/ Accepted 22 November 2004

Diploscapter, a thermotolerant, free-living soil bacterial-feeding nematode commonly found in compost, sewage, and agricultural soil in the United States, was studied to determine its potential role as a vehicle of Salmonella enterica serotype Poona, enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli O157:H7, and Listeria monocytogenes in contaminating preharvest fruits and vegetables. The ability of Diploscapter sp. strain LKC25 to survive on agar media, in cow manure, and in composted turkey manure and to be attracted to, ingest, and disperse food-borne pathogens inoculated into soil or a mixture of soil and composted turkey manure was investigated. Diploscapter sp. strain LKC25 survived and reproduced in lawns of S. enterica serotype Poona, E. coli O157:H7, and L. monocytogenes on agar media and in cow manure and composted turkey manure. Attraction of Diploscapter sp. strain LKC25 to colonies of pathogenic bacteria on tryptic soy agar within 10, 20, 30, and 60 min and 24 h was determined. At least 85% of the worms initially placed 0.5 to 1 cm away from bacterial colonies migrated to the colonies within 1 h. Within 24 h, ≥90% of the worms were embedded in colonies. The potential of Diploscapter sp. strain LKC25 to shed pathogenic bacteria after exposure to bacteria inoculated into soil or a mixture of soil and composted turkey manure was investigated. Results indicate that Diploscapter sp. strain LKC25 can shed pathogenic bacteria after exposure to pathogens in these milieus. They also demonstrate its potential to serve as a vector of food-borne pathogenic bacteria in soil, with or without amendment with compost, to the surface of preharvest fruits and vegetables in contact with soil.

* Corresponding author. Mailing address: Department of Environmental Health Science, Environmental Health Science Building, Rm. 204, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602-2102. Phone: (706) 542-0606. Fax: (706) 542-7472. E-mail: pwilliam{at}uga.edu.

Applied and Environmental Microbiology, May 2005, p. 2433-2437, Vol. 71, No. 5
0099-2240/05/$08.00+0     doi:10.1128/AEM.71.5.2433-2437.2005
Copyright © 2005, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.





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