Salmonella in the Environment

One of the creek sites in our longitudinal study.

The 2019 IFSAC report estimated that about 40% of Salmonella outbreaks were caused by the consumption of contaminated fresh produce. Because fruits and vegetables are often consumed raw, contamination by foodborne pathogens such as Salmonella is a significant problem for the industry.  Our lab studies two vectors of Salmonella transmission to produce: freshwater and wild birds.

Salmonella in fresh water

We love sampling sites by covered bridges. Especially when it’s raining.

Despite being an enteric pathogen, Salmonella can survive in freshwater. Earlier studies from our lab showed that Salmonella serovar populations in water are highly diverse. In on-going work, we are assessing the role of different land-use in influencing Salmonella found in water, and the persistence of different serovars across different watersheds.

Wild Birds

Jared and Nikki collecting bird feces from plants

In a 2-year study funded by the Center for Produce Safety, we are seeking to identify the risk of Salmonella and Campylobacter associated with wild birds by collecting fecal samples on produce fields throughout the Southeastern United States and determining viable pathogen prevalence. In addition, we are identifying population diversity of these samples. The information from this study will be used to develop relevant on-farm bird controls.

Relevant papers:

Smith et al. (2023). Prevalence and molecular characterization of Salmonella isolated from wild birds in fresh produce environments. Frontiers in microbiology. 14:1272916.
Deaven et al. (2021) Salmonella genomics and population analyses reveal high inter and intraserovar diversity in freshwater. Applied and Environmental Microbiology. 87(6):e02594-20.
Fu et al. (2022) Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium isolates from wild birds in the United States represent distinct lineages defined by bird type. Applied and Environmental Microbiology. 88(6):e01979-21.