Survival of Escherichia coli in Edible Land Snails: Implications for Heliciculture and Public Health-Reference-Cited by-同舟云学术

Survival of Escherichia coli in Edible Land Snails: Implications for Heliciculture and Public Health

Published:2024-02-26 Issue:3 Volume:13 Page:204
ISSN:2076-0817
Container-title:Pathogens
language:en
Short-container-title:Pathogens

Author:

Tanyitiku Mary Nkongho¹^ORCID,Nicholas Graeme¹,Sullivan Jon J.²,Petcheu Igor C. Njombissie³,On Stephen L. W.¹^ORCID

Affiliation:

1. Department of Wine, Food and Molecular Biosciences, Lincoln University, Lincoln 7647, New Zealand

2. Department of Pest-Management and Conservation, Lincoln University, Lincoln 7647, New Zealand

3. Global Mapping and Environmental Monitoring, Yaounde P.O. Box 755, Cameroon

Abstract

Background: Land snails are considered a delicacy in many countries in Europe and sub-Saharan Africa. However, the interaction of microbial pathogens with land snails may present a public health threat when handling and/or consuming snails. This study examines the survival of Escherichia coli in edible land snails in a model system. Methods: Well-studied Shigatoxigenic (STEC) and non-STEC strains were compared. Mature Helix spp. were experimentally fed with E. coli-inoculated oats for 48 h. The snail feces after inoculation were periodically sampled and cultured for a 30-day period and subjected to microbiological analyses. Results: The average rate of decline of the non-STEC strain CSH-62 in the feces of live snails was significantly (p < 0.05) faster than that of STEC ERL 06-2503. In addition, the viable population of E. coli ERL 06-2503 significantly (p < 0.05) persisted for a longer time in the intestine of land snails than E. coli CSH-62. Conclusion: The results showed that the viable population of the E. coli strains examined demonstrated first-order kinetics, and their survival (CFU/mL) appeared significantly (p < 0.05) dependent on the E. coli pathotype. In addition, the continuous enumeration of E. coli in snail faeces indicated that land snails could serve as a mode of transmission of microbial pathogens to susceptible hosts, including humans. Further research is recommended to better quantify the direct and indirect health risks of pathogen transmission by edible snails to humans.

Funder

New Zealand Aid programme

Publisher

MDPI AG

Link

https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0817/13/3/204/pdf

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