Isolation and identification of Cronobacter sakazakii from raw vegetables

Cronobacter sakazakii was isolated from 102 samples of vegetables at the retail markets in Shanghai city based on national standard method of GB 4789.40—2010. Cronobacter sakazakii isolates were identified by physiological and biochemical detection, PCR method, BAX System automatic pathogenic microorganism detection system, API 20E identification, and 16S rDNA sequencing. 18 of 102 samples were isolated and identified as suspicious Cronobacter sakazakii isolates according to national standard method of GB 4789.40—2010. Strains from 13 samples were finally identified to be Cronobacter sakazakii with a separation rate of 13%, when isolates from 18 samples were tested by further other four detecting methods. It has been confirmed that vegetables are one of the most common habitats or sources of contamination in current study.