Fate of Listeria monocytogenes in Bovine Manure–Amended Soil

Abstract

The survival and growth of Listeria monocytogenes in soil amended with bovine manure was studied under different environmental conditions of temperature, nutrients, and soil microflora. Autoclaved soil was compared with unautoclaved soil for assessing the influence of competitive soil microflora on the survival of L. monocytogenes. Initial L. monocytogenes cell numbers of 5 to 6 log CFU/g survived for up to 43, 43, and 14 days in manure-amended autoclaved soil at 5, 15, and 21°C, respectively. In manure-amended unautoclaved soil, the pathogen was detectable for up to 43, 21, and 21 days at 5, 15, and 21°C, respectively. L. monocytogenes was inactivated more rapidly in autoclaved soil amended with manure at a manure/soil ratio of 1:10 than in the more dilute (1:100) manure in soil samples at both 15 and 21°C. However, in manure-amended unautoclaved soil, L. monocytogenes survived longer in samples with ratios of 1:10 than in the more dilute (1:100) manure-amended soil. The persistence of L. monocytogenes for several weeks in manure-amended soil suggests listeriae could be transmitted through soil to fresh produce or to shoes, clothing, and hands of field workers, especially during the cold months.