Detection of Salmonella in Wastewater Irrigated Farms in Meknes City, Morocco
Yousra Ameziane El Hassani *
Laboratory of Environment, Ecology and Health, Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, Moulay Ismail University, Zitoune Meknes, Morocco.
Ibrahim El Ghazi
“Health & Environment” Competence Cluster, Faculty of Sciences, Moulay Ismail University, Zitoune Meknes, Morocco.
Fatiha Laziri
Laboratory of Environment, Ecology and Health, Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, Moulay Ismail University, Zitoune Meknes, Morocco.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
The use of polluted water for irrigation is prominent in urban and peri-urban farms in Meknes (Morocco). However, this water may contain many pathogens that cause serious infections. Consumption of contaminated vegetables could be a significant public health problem. Salmonella is a bacteria responsible for multiple body infections, including gastroenteritis, fevers, and more severe symptoms. This study aims to determine the prevalence of Salmonella in urban and periurban farms of Meknes. A total of seventy samples (17 Water, 11 soil, and 42 vegetables) were collected and analyzed using a combination of conventional and molecular methods. The results showed that irrigation water was the most contaminated with Salmonella, followed by soil samples (45.5%) and vegetables (16.6%). This study shows a high prevalence of Salmonella in irrigation water, which can be a source of contamination of crops. It raises public health concerns as farmers and consumers are at risk of infection.
Keywords: Salmonella, irrigation water, polymerase chain reaction, Meknes, Morocco