Abstract:
We assessed the prevalence of E. coli O157:H7 in irrigation water
and agricultural soil samples in two District Municipalities in South
Africa using standard culture-based and molecular techniques.
Presumptive E. coli O157:H7 counts in irrigation water and agricultural soil samples ranged from 1.00 Log10 CFU/100 ml to 4.11 Log10
CFU/100 ml and 2.20 Log10 CFU/g to 4.21 Log10 CFU/g respectively
(P ≤ 0.05). Thirteen (28%) of the confirmed isolates (n = 46) were
Shiga toxigenic and 33 (72%) were Shiga toxin negative. The presence of Shiga toxigenic E. coli O157:H7 strain in irrigation water
and agricultural soil samples reported by this study suggests potential risk to food safety and population health.
