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. 1998 Apr;64(4):1532-5.
doi: 10.1128/AEM.64.4.1532-1535.1998.

Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli O157:H7 present in radish sprouts

Y Itoh  1 , Y Sugita-Konishi, F Kasuga, M Iwaki, Y Hara-Kudo, N Saito, Y Noguchi, H Konuma, S Kumagai
Affiliations

Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli O157:H7 present in radish sprouts

Y Itoh et al. Appl Environ Microbiol. 1998 Apr.

Abstract

Using cultivation, immunofluorescence microscopy, and scanning electron microscopy, we demonstrated the presence of viable enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli O157:H7 not only on the outer surfaces but also in the inner tissues and stomata of cotyledons of radish sprouts grown from seeds experimentally contaminated with the bacterium. HgCl2 treatment of the outer surface of the hypocotyl did not kill the contaminating bacteria, which emphasized the importance of either using seeds free from E. coli O157:H7 in the production of radish sprouts or heating the sprouts before they are eaten.

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Figures

FIG. 1
FIG. 1
Contaminated radish sprouts as shown by fluorescence microscopy. Horizontal sections were prepared and stained with the antibody against E. coli O157:H7. (a) Contaminated sprouts. The fluorescence was caused by antibody against E. coli O157:H7 binding. (b) Noncontaminated control sprouts. (a and b) Magnification, ×100. (Insets) Magnification, ×400.
FIG. 2
FIG. 2
Contaminated radish sprouts as shown by scanning electron microscopy. (a) Outer surface. The arrow indicates a stomate, and the arrowheads indicate bacteria. (b) Inner surface. The arrow indicates the xylem, and the arrowheads indicate bacteria. Insets show sections stained with E. coli O157:H7 antibody. (a and b) Bar = 5 μm. (Insets) Bar = 50 nm.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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