Fruits and vegetables are essential components of a healthy diet because they provide vitamins, minerals, dietary fibre, and numerous bioactive compounds that contribute to the prevention of cardiovascular diseases, obesity, type 2 diabetes, and several types of cancer. Consequently, international health organisations continue to recommend the regular consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables as part of a balanced diet and a key strategy for improving population health [1]-[3].

Despite their recognised nutritional value, fresh fruits and vegetables have increasingly been implicated in foodborne disease outbreaks worldwide. Because these products are frequently consumed raw or undergo minimal processing before consumption, they may serve as vehicles for pathogenic microorganisms. Contamination may occur at any stage of the food chain, including cultivation, harvesting, transportation, storage, marketing, and retail distribution. The principal sources of contamination include irrigation with microbiologically contaminated water, the use of inadequately composted organic fertilisers, contaminated soil, poor hygiene practices among food handlers, and cross-contamination during post-harvest handling [4]-[7]. Recent FAO and WHO reports emphasize that fresh produce remains one of the major food commodities associated with microbiological hazards and foodborne outbreaks, highlighting the need for improved food safety management throughout the production chain [4].

Foodborne diseases continue to represent a major global public health challenge. According to the World Health Organisation, more than 200 diseases are transmitted through contaminated food, causing substantial morbidity, mortality, and economic losses worldwide. The burden of these diseases disproportionately affects low- and middle-income countries, where inadequate sanitation, limited access to safe water, and weak food safety systems increase the risk of exposure to enteric pathogens [8][9].

Among bacterial foodborne pathogens, Salmonellaspp. and Shigellaspp. remain of particular public health importance. Non-typhoidal Salmonella is one of the leading causes of bacterial gastroenteritis worldwide and is responsible for millions of infections annually. Likewise, Shigellaspp. remains a major cause of bacillary dysentery, especially among children under five years of age in resource-limited settings. The emergence and dissemination of antimicrobial-resistant strains of both pathogens have further complicated disease management and increased their public health significance [10]-[12].

In sub-Saharan Africa, rapid urbanization, expanding vegetable production, inadequate sanitation infrastructure, and the widespread use of untreated wastewater for irrigation contribute substantially to the microbiological contamination of fresh produce. In Guinea, diarrheal diseases remain among the leading causes of morbidity, particularly among children, yet information regarding the contamination of fruits and vegetables by Salmonellaspp. and Shigellaspp. is still scarce.

The detection of Shigellaspp. in various matrices (fresh fruit and vegetables, irrigation water and organic fertilisers) was carried out in accordance with the recommendations of ISO 21567, with specific adaptations depending on the nature of each sample.

Data were entered into Microsoft Excel 2019 and subsequently analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics version 26.0. Qualitative variables were summarized using frequencies and percentages, while quantitative variables were summarized using means and standard deviations where appropriate.

The prevalence of Salmonellaspp. and Shigellaspp. was calculated as the proportion of positive samples among the total number of samples tested. The corresponding 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were calculated.

Information on farming practices, irrigation water quality, and the use of organic fertilizers was collected for descriptive purposes. However, these variables were not available at the individual sample level. Therefore, no multivariable regression analysis was performed to assess their association with contamination status. Consequently, the present study should be considered a contamination survey rather than a formal risk-factor assessment.

Seasonal variations in contamination were not specifically analyzed in the present study. Although sampling covered approximately one year, the results were not stratified by season. Therefore, no conclusions regarding seasonal differences in Salmonellaspp. or Shigellaspp. contamination were drawn.

Table 1 shows the breakdown of the 1630 samples analysed by source material. The samples came primarily from irrigation water (35.40%), followed by fresh fruits and vegetables (34.17%) and organic fertilisers (30.43%).

Table 1. Number of samples by biological material.

This distribution reflects a balanced methodological approach that takes into account not only products directly consumed by the population (fruits and vegetables) but also the main environmental sources of microbial contamination (irrigation water and fertilisers).

The relatively high number of irrigation water samples can be explained by their critical role as a potential vector for pathogenic bacteria. Similarly, the emphasis placed on organic fertilisers reflects their frequent involvement in the contamination of vegetable crops.

Thus, this sampling strategy provides a better understanding of the potential transmission chain of Salmonella and Shigella, from the agricultural environment to the food consumed, and enables the development of appropriate public health prevention measures.

For Shigella, when no cases are observed, it is recommended to report an exact 95% binomial confidence interval. For 0/557 samples, the upper confidence limit is approximately 0.69%.

Table 2 presents the prevalence of Salmonella spp. and Shigella spp. among the 557 fruit and vegetable samples analysed. Salmonella spp. contamination was detected in 109 samples, corresponding to a prevalence of 19.57% (95% CI [16.49 - 23.07]). In contrast, no Shigella spp. isolates were recovered from any of the samples analysed (0%; 95% CI [0.00 - 0.69]). These findings indicate that fruits and vegetables marketed in Kindia Prefecture constitute a potential reservoir of Salmonella spp. and highlight the need to strengthen preventive measures and microbiological surveillance throughout the production and marketing chain.

Table 2. Prevalence of Salmonella and Shigella in fruits and vegetables.

Table 3 presents the prevalence of Salmonella spp. according to the type of fruit or vegetable analysed. Contamination rates varied among the different produce types. The highest prevalences were observed in lettuce (37.50%) and cabbage (36.36%), followed by tomato (29.60%) and chili pepper (26.92%). Intermediate prevalences were recorded for onion leaves (21.43%) and cucumber (21.21%), whereas white eggplant (14.17%), okra (14.89%), and black eggplant (9.85%) showed lower contamination rates. No Shigella spp. isolates were recovered from any of the 557 fruit and vegetable samples analysed. These findings indicate that the risk of Salmonella contamination differs among plant species, which may be related to the morphological characteristics of the produce, cultivation practices, and handling conditions prior to marketing.

Table 3. Breakdown of positive cases by type of fruit and vegetable.

Table 4 shows the geographical variation in Salmonella spp. contamination across the different neighbourhoods of the urban municipality of Kindia; no cases of Shigella spp. were identified.

Table 4. Distribution of strains by origin or collection site in the neighborhoods of the urban municipality of Kindia.

The most affected neighbourhoods are Bamban (56.25 percent), Kolia (54.55 percent), Yogountamba (50.00 percent), Pastoria (43.75 percent) and Wondy (37.50 percent), followed by Dadia (29.41 percent), Manqueras (23.08 percent), Foulaye (21.21 percent) and Mangoyah (19.35 percent). In contrast, areas such as the abattoir (7.14 percent) and Banlieu (5.88 percent) have the lowest contamination rates.

This variation could be explained by:

the variable quality of irrigation water, which is often exposed to different sources of pollution depending on the neighbourhood,agricultural and irrigation methods, which are to a greater or lesser extent exposed to animal faeces or contaminated organic fertilisers,post-harvest hygiene conditions and sales practices at local markets.

Consequently, certain neighbourhoods (notably Bamban, Yogountamba and Pastoria) appear to be priority hotspots for contamination, requiring targeted corrective measures to reduce health risks.

Table 5 shows the prevalence of Salmonella spp. and Shigella spp. in samples of irrigation water and organic fertilisers. Of the 577 irrigation water samples, 68 (11.79%; 95% CI [9.40 - 14.67]) tested positive for Salmonella spp., whilst only one sample (0.17%; 95% CI [0.03 - 0.98]) tested positive for Shigella spp. Of the 496 organic fertiliser samples, 59 (11.90%; 95% CI [9.33 - 15.04]) were contaminated with Salmonella spp., whilst no strains of Shigella spp. were detected. These results show that irrigation water and organic fertilisers constitute potential reservoirs of Salmonella spp., whilst the presence of Shigella spp. remained rare, with only a single isolate observed in irrigation water.

Table 5. Prevalence of Salmonellaspp. and Shigellaspp. in irrigation water and organic fertilisers.

Exact binomial 95% confidence interval calculated for zero positive cases among 496 samples.

Table 6 shows the distribution of positive cases of Salmonella spp. and Shigella spp. by sampling site in the rural communes of Kindia.

Table 6. Presence of germs in fruits and vegetables by sampling location in the subprefectures.

Out of a total of 236 samples, 33 positive cases of Salmonella were detected (13.98 percent), and no cases of Shigella were observed.The most contaminated sites were Damakanya (22.22 percent), Madina Oula (18.92 percent) and Mambia (17.65 percent), whilst Molota (8.70 percent) and Sougueta (9.09 percent) had the lowest rates.

This distribution indicates that Salmonella contamination is uneven across the various rural localities, probably due to:

the quality of the irrigation water used,agricultural practices and the application of organic fertilisers,hygiene conditions during harvesting and transport.

These results suggest that certain rural areas (notably Damakanya, Madina Oula and Mambia) could be prioritised for targeted interventions aimed at reducing microbiological contamination of fruit and vegetables.

Table 7. Distribution of Salmonella serotypes isolated from fruits and vegetables.

Serotyping of the 109 Salmonella isolates recovered from fruits and vegetables revealed the presence of three serotypes. Salmonellatyphimurium was the most frequently identified serotype, with 55 isolates, corresponding to a prevalence of 9.87% (95% CI [7.53 - 12.66]), followed by Salmonellaenteritidis with 51 isolates (9.16%; 95% CI [6.89 - 11.86]). In contrast, Salmonellatyphi was detected in only three samples, corresponding to a prevalence of 0.54% (95% CI [0.11 - 1.57]). Overall, 109 of the 557 samples analysed were positive for Salmonella, corresponding to an overall prevalence of 19.57% (95% CI [16.35 - 23.11]) (Table 7).

The predominance of S.typhimurium and S.enteritidis is consistent with findings reported in the scientific literature, as these two serotypes are the leading causes of foodborne salmonellosis worldwide and are frequently associated with animal-derived products, animal feces, inadequately composted organic fertilisers, and contaminated irrigation water. Their presence in fruits and vegetables most likely reflects contamination occurring during primary production or post-harvest handling.

Conversely, the low frequency of S.typhi was expected because this serotype is strictly human-adapted, and its transmission is primarily associated with human fecal contamination, particularly through contaminated water or poor hygiene practices. Nevertheless, the detection of S.typhi, even at a low frequency, remains a matter of concern, as it suggests contamination of human origin and highlights the need to strengthen hygiene measures, improve the microbiological quality of water used in agriculture, and reinforce microbiological surveillance throughout the production and marketing chain of fresh produce.

During the present study, a total of 1.630 samples were collected, comprising 557 (34.17%) fruits and vegetables, 577 (35.40%) irrigation water samples, and 496 (30.43%) organic fertiliser samples (manure, poultry droppings, compost, and cattle manure). Among the fruit and vegetable samples, Salmonellaspp. was detected in 109 of 557 samples, corresponding to an overall prevalence of 19.57% (95% CI [16.49 - 23.07]), whereas Shigellaspp. was not detected in any sample (0%; 95% CI [0.00 - 0.69]).

The relatively high prevalence of Salmonella observed in the present study indicates that fresh fruits and vegetables marketed in Kindia constitute a potential source of foodborne salmonellosis. Fresh produce is recognised as one of the food commodities most frequently associated with foodborne outbreaks because it is commonly consumed raw and can become contaminated at any stage of the production chain, from cultivation to retail. Recent FAO/WHO expert reports have highlighted irrigation water, inadequately composted organic fertilisers, contaminated soil, poor hygiene during harvesting, and cross-contamination during transportation and marketing as the principal sources of microbiological contamination of fresh produce [4].

The prevalence of Salmonella observed in our study (19.57%) was higher than those reported by Brockmann etal. in Germany (12.5%) [13] and Van Doren etal. in the United States (9.87%) [14]. These differences are probably related to variations in climatic conditions, agricultural practices, irrigation water quality, environmental sanitation, and food safety management systems [15][16]. In low-resource settings such as Guinea, untreated surface water, limited implementation of Good Agricultural Practices (GAP), inadequate composting of organic fertilisers, and insufficient post-harvest hygiene may substantially increase the risk of contamination of fresh produce [4][17][18].

Our findings also differ from those of Cetinkaya etal. [15], who reported only 0.24% Salmonella contamination and no Shigella isolates among food samples. This discrepancy may be explained by differences in food matrices, environmental conditions, sampling strategies, laboratory methodologies, and hygiene practices. The absence of Shigellaspp. in the present study is consistent with recent evidence indicating that this pathogen is less frequently isolated from fresh produce than Salmonella. Unlike Salmonella, Shigella has a limited ability to survive outside the human host and is generally associated with direct fecal contamination rather than prolonged environmental persistence [19][20].

Marked differences in contamination rates were observed among the different fruit and vegetable species. Lettuce (37.50%) and cabbage (36.36%) exhibited the highest prevalence, followed by tomato (29.60%) and chili pepper (26.92%). Intermediate prevalences were found in onion leaves (21.43%) and cucumber (21.21%), whereas white eggplant (14.17%), okra (14.89%), and black eggplant (9.85%) showed lower contamination rates. These findings agree with recent systematic reviews demonstrating that leafy vegetables generally present the highest risk of bacterial contamination because their rough and folded leaf surfaces facilitate the attachment and persistence of pathogenic microorganisms, soil particles, irrigation water, and organic matter, making decontamination more difficult than for smooth-surfaced vegetables [18][19].

Compared with the study by Toe [16], the prevalence observed in tomatoes was higher in the present study, whereas those recorded for lettuce and cucumbers were lower. Such variations may be explained by differences in geographical location, climatic conditions, agricultural practices, irrigation methods, fertiliser management, season of sampling, and post-harvest handling. Recent meta-analyses have shown that the occurrence of Salmonella in fresh produce varies considerably between countries and production systems, reflecting differences in environmental conditions and food safety practices [19].

Overall, the present findings highlight the need to strengthen microbiological surveillance of fresh fruits and vegetables in Guinea and to promote the implementation of Good Agricultural Practices (GAP), Good Hygiene Practices (GHP), and Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP)-based food safety systems throughout the production and marketing chain. Improving irrigation water quality, ensuring adequate composting of organic fertilisers, and reinforcing hygiene during harvesting, transportation, and retail marketing would substantially reduce the risk of Salmonella contamination and improve consumer safety [17][18][20][21].

The contamination of irrigation water (11.79 percent) and organic fertilisers (11.90 per cent) by Salmonellaspp. observed in this study confirms that these agricultural inputs may act as potential reservoirs of enteric bacteria and contribute to the contamination of fruit and vegetables. These findings are consistent with those of the [18], as well as with the work of [20] and [19], who identify contaminated irrigation water and inadequately composted organic fertilisers as major sources of microbiological contamination of market garden produce.

Conversely, Shigellaspp. was detected in only one irrigation water sample (0.17 percent) and was absent from organic fertilisers. This low prevalence is consistent with the literature, which shows that Shigella struggles to survive in the environment and is primarily associated with faecal contamination of human origin [11][20].

Serotyping of the isolates revealed the presence of three Salmonella serotypes, with a clear predominance of Salmonellatyphimurium (55 isolates; 9.87%), followed by Salmonellaenteritidis (51 isolates; 9.16%), whereas Salmonellatyphiwas detected in only three samples (0.54%). This distribution indicates that non-typhoidal Salmonella (NTS) serotypes (S.typhimurium and S.enteritidis) accounted for nearly all Salmonella isolates recovered from fruits and vegetables marketed in Kindia Prefecture.

The predominance of S.typhimurium and S.enteritidis is consistent with findings reported in recent studies. A systematic review and meta-analysis by Ma etal. [18] identified S.typhimurium and S.enteritidis among the most frequently isolated serotypes from retail fresh fruits and vegetables worldwide. According to the authors, the predominance of these serotypes is associated with their broad animal reservoirs, remarkable adaptability to diverse environmental conditions, and their ability to persist on fresh produce throughout the production and distribution chain [17].

The high frequency of these two serotypes in the present study may be attributed to crop contamination through animal feces, inadequately composted organic fertilisers, contaminated irrigation water, or cross-contamination during harvesting, transportation, and marketing. Thomas etal. [19] reported that S.typhimurium and S.enteritidis exhibit a strong capacity to adhere to plant surfaces, form biofilms, and persist on fresh fruits and vegetables, thereby increasing their likelihood of surviving until consumption.

Joint FAO and WHO reports have also emphasized that fresh produce can become contaminated throughout the production chain, primarily through the use of microbiologically contaminated irrigation water, inadequately composted organic fertilisers, contact with animals, and poor implementation of Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) and Good Hygiene Practices (GHP) [19]. These factors are likely to have contributed to the contamination observed in the present study.

In contrast, the low prevalence of S.typhi observed in this study is consistent with its unique epidemiology. Unlike non-typhoidal Salmonella, S.typhi is a strictly human-adapted pathogen whose transmission is primarily associated with fecal contamination through contaminated water or infected food handlers. Its low occurrence suggests that contamination of fruits and vegetables in the study area is more likely to originate from environmental or animal sources than from direct human contamination. Nevertheless, the detection of S.typhi, even at a low frequency, remains a public health concern because it indicates possible fecal contamination and underscores the need to improve the microbiological quality of irrigation water and hygiene practices during produce handling.

Recent surveillance data from the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) FoodNet network further confirm that S.enteritidis and S.typhimurium remain among the leading serotypes responsible for human salmonellosis worldwide [21]. Furthermore, the emergence and spread of multidrug-resistant strains of these serotypes have become a major public health concern because of their ability to circulate among animals, the environment, and humans within a One Health framework [22].

Overall, the predominance of S.typhimurium and S.enteritidis observed in the present study highlights a significant risk of foodborne salmonellosis associated with the consumption of raw fruits and vegetables in Kindia Prefecture. These findings emphasize the need to strengthen Good Agricultural Practices (GAP), Good Hygiene Practices (GHP), the use of microbiologically safe irrigation water, proper composting of organic fertilisers, and routine microbiological surveillance of fresh produce in order to reduce the risk of contamination and protect consumer health [19][22].

The risk factors discussed in this study were not subjected to a specific statistical analysis. They are proposed as explanatory hypotheses based on field observations and evidence from the scientific literature. Agricultural practices, the use of irrigation water of inadequate microbiological quality, the application of insufficiently composted organic fertilisers, as well as harvesting, transportation, and marketing conditions, are recognised as factors that may promote the contamination of fruit and vegetable products by enteric bacteria.

These results confirm that fruits and vegetables, as well as agricultural inputs (irrigation water and manure), are significant vectors of contamination. They underscore the need to raise awareness among producers, promote good agricultural practices, and implement microbiological monitoring measures to reduce the risks associated with diarrheal diseases.

The findings of this study demonstrate a substantial contamination of fruits and vegetables marketed in Kindia Prefecture by Salmonellaspp., with an overall prevalence of 19.57%, whereas no Shigellaspp. isolates were recovered from these products. Among the agricultural inputs, Salmonellaspp. was also detected in 11.79% of irrigation water samples and 11.90% of organic fertiliser samples. In contrast, Shigella spp. was detected in only one irrigation water sample (0.17%) and was not detected in any organic fertiliser sample.

The predominance of Salmonellatyphimurium and Salmonellaenteritidis highlights the importance of this pathogen in the vegetable production environment of Kindia Prefecture and confirms that fresh produce may constitute a potential route for the transmission of foodborne salmonellosis.

Although agricultural practices, the microbiological quality of irrigation water, and the use of organic fertilisers are recognised as potential sources of contamination, their association with contamination status was not evaluated by statistical analysis in the present study. Therefore, these factors should be considered as hypotheses based on field observations and current scientific evidence rather than as statistically demonstrated risk factors.

These findings highlight the need to strengthen the microbiological surveillance of fresh produce and its production environment, improve the microbiological quality of irrigation water, ensure the proper composting of organic fertilisers, and promote the implementation of Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) and Good Hygiene Practices (GHP) throughout the production and marketing chain. Further studies incorporating multivariable statistical analyses will be necessary to identify the independent determinants of contamination and to better guide prevention strategies.

Recommendations at the national level, as well as from stakeholders in the fruit and vegetable production sector and consumers, are necessary to reduce the risk of contamination and protect consumer health.

Conceptualisation: Mariama Bah, Bonaventure Kolié, Siba Kalivogui, Boubacar Sidy Sily Bah; Data curation: Mariama Bah, Bonaventure Kolié, Haziz Sina, Agossou Marcellin Aïgbe, Boubacar Sidy Sily Bah; Formal analysis: Mariama Bah, Bonaventure Kolié; Investigation: Mariama Bah, Bonaventure Kolié, Abado Sylvestre Assogba, Haziz Sina, Agossou Marcellin Aïgbe, Siba Kalivogui, Boubacar Sidy Sily Bah; Methodology: Mariama Bah, Bonaventure Kolié, Haziz Sina, Agossou Marcellin Aïgbe, Boubacar Sidy Sily Bah; Project administration: Boubacar Sidy Sily Bah, Haziz Sina, Agossou Marcellin Aïgbe; Supervision: Boubacar Sidy Sily Bah, Siba Kalivogui; Validation: Mariama Bah, Bonaventure Kolié, Boubacar Sidy Sily Bah; Visualisation: Bonaventure Kolié, Mariama Bah; Editing—original project: Bonaventure Kolié, Mariama Bah, Boubacar Sidy Sily Bah; Writing—revision and editing: Bonaventure Kolié, Mariama Bah, Boubacar Sidy Sily Bah.