TITLE:
Occurrence of Salmonella spp. and Shigella spp. in Irrigation Water and Organic Fertilizers Used in Vegetable Farms in Kindia Prefecture, Guinea
AUTHORS:
Mariama Bah, Bonaventure Kolié, Souleymane Diallo, Amadou Tidia Diallo, Aly Nènè Mansare, Boubacar Sidy Sily Bah
KEYWORDS:
Salmonella, Shigella, Irrigation Water, Organic Fertilizers, Microbiological Contamination, Kindia, Guinea
JOURNAL NAME:
American Journal of Plant Sciences,
Vol.17 No.10,
October
20,
2026
ABSTRACT: Microbiological contamination of vegetable products constitutes a major public health concern, particularly in vegetable-growing areas where irrigation water and organic fertilizers may serve as vehicles for pathogenic microorganisms. The present study aimed to assess the microbiological contamination of irrigation water and organic fertilizers used in vegetable farms in Kindia Prefecture by bacteria of the genera Salmonella and Shigella. The study was conducted from June 2024 to March 2025 in Kindia Prefecture. A total of 1073 samples were collected, including 577 irrigation water samples and 496 organic fertilizer samples. Microbiological analyses were performed in accordance with ISO 6579-1:2017 for Salmonella spp. and ISO 21567 for Shigella spp. Among the irrigation water samples, 68 out of 577 were positive for Salmonella (11.79%; 95% CI: 9.40 - 14.67), while only one case of Shigella was detected (0.17%). Organic fertilizers showed a Salmonella prevalence of 11.90% (59/496; 95% CI: 9.33 - 15.04), with no Shigella detected. Runoff water was the most contaminated irrigation source (15.94%). The predominant serotype was Salmonella enteritidis, with 75 strains (58.59% of isolates), whereas only one isolate of Shigella dysenteriae type 1 was identified in irrigation water (0.78% of isolates). These results indicate that contaminated irrigation water and organic fertilizers may constitute potential sources of Salmonella in vegetable production systems.