@article{Lamon_Piras_Meloni_Agus_Porcheddu_Pes_Cambula_Esposito_Fois_Consolati_Mureddu_2020, title={Enumeration of <em>Escherichia coli</em> and determination of <em>Salmonella</em> spp. and verotoxigenic <em>Escherichia coli</em> in shellfish (<em>Mytilus galloprovincialis</em> and <em>Ruditapes decussatus</em>) harvested in Sardinia, Italy}, volume={9}, url={https://www.pagepressjournals.org/ijfs/article/view/8625}, DOI={10.4081/ijfs.2020.8625}, abstractNote={&lt;p&gt;The aim of the present study was to evaluate the occurrence of &lt;em&gt;Salmonella&lt;/em&gt; spp., Verotoxigenic &lt;em&gt;E. Col&lt;/em&gt;i (VTEC) and enumerate &lt;em&gt;E. coli&lt;/em&gt; in shellfish (&lt;em&gt;Mytilus galloprovincialis&lt;/em&gt; and &lt;em&gt;Ruditapes decussatus&lt;/em&gt;) collected before and after depuration from two class B harvesting areas located in Sardinia (Italy). All the samples were analyzed for Salmonella spp. detection according to European Commission Regulation (EC) 2073/2005 and examined using the five tube Most-Probable-Number (MPN) method for enumeration of &lt;em&gt;E. coli&lt;/em&gt; in accordance with the European Union reference method ISO 16649-3:2015. &lt;em&gt;E. coli&lt;/em&gt; VTEC was investigated following a direct multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) screening test. The enumeration of&lt;em&gt; E. coli&lt;/em&gt; met the European law limit for Class A areas of 230 MPN/100g. The averaged enumeration of&lt;em&gt; E. coli&lt;/em&gt; in samples of &lt;em&gt;M. galloprovincialis&lt;/em&gt; and &lt;em&gt;R. decussatus&lt;/em&gt; collected at the harvesting time was 39 and 37 MPN/100 g respectively. The average contamination levels in samples collected after purification were 58 MPN/100g (&lt;em&gt;M. galloprovincialis)&lt;/em&gt; and 32 MPN/100 g (&lt;em&gt;R. decussatus&lt;/em&gt;). &lt;em&gt;E. coli&lt;/em&gt; VTEC was not detected, on the contrary, &lt;em&gt;Salmonella&lt;/em&gt; ser. &lt;em&gt;Typhimurium&lt;/em&gt; was detected in one sample of &lt;em&gt;M. galloprovincialis&lt;/em&gt; and in one sample of &lt;em&gt;R. decussatus&lt;/em&gt; collected at the harvesting time. No significant associations were observed between &lt;em&gt;E. coli&lt;/em&gt; levels in shellfish and environmental parameters of water or with the detection of &lt;em&gt;Salmonella&lt;/em&gt; ser. &lt;em&gt;Typhimurium&lt;/em&gt; in &lt;em&gt;M. galloprovincialis&lt;/em&gt; and &lt;em&gt;R. decussatus&lt;/em&gt; samples. Nevertheless, the occurrence of &lt;em&gt;Salmonella&lt;/em&gt; ser. &lt;em&gt;Typhimurium&lt;/em&gt;, involved in human infection outbreaks, should be considered a potential risk for consumers.&lt;/p&gt;}, number={4}, journal={Italian Journal of Food Safety}, author={Lamon, Sonia and Piras, Francesca and Meloni, Domenico and Agus, Vanessa and Porcheddu, Gabriella and Pes, Margherita and Cambula, Maria Giovanna and Esposito, Giuseppe and Fois, Federica and Consolati, Simonetta Gianna and Mureddu, Anna}, year={2020}, month={Dec.} }