Abstract: The contamination of vegetables and their watering water by pathogens resistant to antibiotics constitutes a major public health issue, the scope of which is not always assessed. The objective of this study was to evaluate the level of contamination and antibiotic resistance of Salmonella sp. and Escherichia coli from watering water and vegetables collected in the suburban markets of Abidjan, Ivory Coast. A total of 180 samples, including 90 of vegetables and 90 of their irrigation water, were taken from the Dabou, Anyama, Bonoua and Adiopodoumé sites. The strains of Salmonella sp. and Escherichia coli were investigated according to standard microbiological methods. The resistance of these strains to antibiotics was carried out by the Müeller Hinton agar diffusion method. The results revealed a prevalence of E. coli of 48.9% in irrigation water and 54.4% in vegetables. The prevalence of Salmonella sp in vegetables was 65.5%. All strains of Salmonella sp, were resistant to pefloxacin (100%). About 77.8% of the strains coming from water and 80% from vegetables, were resistant to cefepime. Concerning the strains of E. coli isolated from vegetables, 76.4% were resistant to ticarcillin. For strains isolated from irrigation water, 54.4% were resistant to ceftazidime, 50.4% to cefepime. ESBL-producing strains were detected at 64.5% in Salmonella sp strains isolated from irrigation water and CARBA-R strains at 69.2% in vegetables. The FQ-R phenotypes were expressed in all strains originating from vegetables and their watering water. As for E. 76.6% of the vegetable strains expressed the ESBL phenotype and 51.5% of the irrigation water strains the FQ-R phenotype. The resistance profile of E. coli showed resistance to several classes of antibiotics, in particular for carbapenems and fluoroquinolones as well as resistance to 3rd generation cephalosporins. Concerning Salmonella sp., resistance to fluoroquinolones and carbapenems is of particular concern. These results show the need to improve agricultural practices and the regulation of antibiotics to ensure food security in Côte d'Ivoire.
Abstract: The contamination of vegetables and their watering water by pathogens resistant to antibiotics constitutes a major public health issue, the scope of which is not always assessed. The objective of this study was to evaluate the level of contamination and antibiotic resistance of Salmonella sp. and Escherichia coli from watering water and vegetables ...Show More