Role of Soil Crop Debris and a Plant Pathogen in Salmonella enterica Contamination of Tomato Plants

摘要

BackgroundIn the U.S., tomatoes have become the most implicated vehicle for produce-associated Salmonellosis with 12 outbreaks since 1998. Although unconfirmed, trace backs suggest pre-harvest contamination with Salmonella enterica. Routes of tomato crop contamination by S. enterica in the absence of direct artificial inoculation have not been investigated.