Presence of antibiotic resistance non-typhoidal Salmonella spp. from green leafy vegetables in Dehradun

Presence of antibiotic resistance non-typhoidal Salmonella spp. from green leafy vegetables in Dehradun | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Research Article Presence of antibiotic resistance non-typhoidal Salmonella spp. from green leafy vegetables in Dehradun Rahul Kumar, Neha Kamboj, Navin Kumar, Pankaj Gautam This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-4585592/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Published Journal Publication published 26 Feb, 2025 Read the published version in Journal of Pure and Applied Microbiology → Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract Non-typhoidal Salmonella infections (NTS) are a significant public health issue in low-income countries because of inadequate hygiene and sanitation facilities. This issue is further complicated by inadequate periodic surveillance for the better management of Salmonella -related infections. Furthermore, reports of antibiotic-resistant Salmonella species pre- and post-harvest require periodic characterization of bacterial isolates to ascertain the appropriate medication for effective treatment. In the present study, 645 green leafy vegetable samples were examined for the presence of typhoidal and non-typhoidal Salmonella species. Isolate culture on differential medium and biochemical characterization confirmed the presence of Salmonella species in 61 out of 645 samples (9.45%) collected from ten sample sites in the Dehradun district of Uttarakhand state in India. The culture confirmed that 15 isolates were randomly selected, and each sample was subjected to 47 antibiotics for antimicrobial susceptibility testing. Of the bacterial isolates, 93.33% were resistant to methicillin, whereas 80% were resistant to cefpodoxime, teicoplanin, and clindamycin. In total, 55.33% of the isolates were resistant to Linezolid, Novobiocin, colistin, and nitrofurantoin. 46.66% were resistant to chloramphenicol. Salmonella sp. with Antibiotic resistance of Salmonella spp. was found in the Dehradun area, and this study may help with disease management and adequate food safety measures. Antimicrobial resistance leafy green vegetables colonization and Salmonella Figures Figure 1 1. Introduction Salmonella , Shigella , Listeria monocytogens , and pathogenic Escherichia coli are frequently reported to cause severe enteric infections in humans. Disease outbreaks are often linked to the consumption of contaminated food and drinking water, especially in resource-poor areas [ 1 ]. Among other food sources, the consumption of raw green leafy vegetables is a major source of infection. Salmonella species account for 153 million enteric infections and over 57,000 diarrheal deaths globally; one out of ten people falls ill due to foodborne diseases every year, with 33 million healthy lives lost [ 2 ]. Salmonella is a gram-negative flagellated bacterium that belongs to the Enterobacteriaceae family. Two genera of Salmonella , bongori and enterica, comprise 2500 serovars that infect a wide range of hosts, including animals and humans, resulting in 94% food-based transmission [ 3 ]. Salmonella spreads through feces, contaminated water, irrigation soil, manure, and field crops. Non-typhoidal Salmonella (NTS) is a common cause of bacterial gastroenteritis in humans, causing 93.8 million cases of enteric infections globally each year and 155,000 deaths [ 4 ]. Foodborne bacterial outbreaks have been reported in the USA, Europe, and Asia-Pacific region. The Asia-Pacific region alone accounts for 275 million foodborne illnesses annually, with the Southeast Asian region registering the second highest burden. India has the highest annual rate of Salmonella outbreaks, with West Bengal, Karnataka, and Gujarat reporting the highest numbers [ 35 ]. Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in foodborne bacteria can pose serious public health risks, with 297,000 deaths in 2019 and 1,042,500 deaths associated with AMR. According to a 2009–2018 surveillance report, India reported 2,688 foodborne disease outbreaks, resulting in 153,745 illnesses and 572 deaths. The average annual rate of foodborne disease outbreaks was 2.2 per 10 million people, with a maximum of 3.2 in 2016. According to the 2022 NCBI study, the overall MDR pattern of common foodborne pathogens is 88.33% for E. coli , 75% for Salmonella , 95% for Staphylococcus , and 100% for Streptococcus . Bean consumption was shown to be a food vehicle responsible for maximum outbreaks (32.7%) among 19.6% of outbreaks. Furthermore, Salmonella has been linked to outbreaks associated with fresh produce, including epidemics associated with lettuce in European nations [ 5 ]. Raw green leafy vegetables are among the most important forms of fresh vegetables in a balanced diet [ 6 ]. However, a persistent rise in the number of leafy, green-related disease outbreaks has caused serious concerns regarding food safety worldwide as well as human health [ 7 ]. The evaluation of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), including MDR in pathogenic E. coli and Salmonella strains in fresh produce, is a significant global food safety and human health concern [ 8 ]. In India, the primary cause of diarrheal illness in both adults and newborns is frequently E. coli and Salmonella [ 5 ]. However, Salmonella and E. coli are becoming increasingly associated with outbreaks of green-leaf-related diseases [ 9 ]. There is little evidence available that relates illness to green leafy vegetables [ 10 ]. To investigate the occurrence of Salmonella pathotypes in green leafy vegetables in India [ 11 ]. The present study explored the pathogenic Bactria and Antibiotic resistance phenotypes in green leafy vegetables in the commercial and non-commercial Dehradun region. 2 Methods 2.1 Collection of samples Vegetable samples were collected from ten different sites in Dehradun City, Uttarakhand, India, including growing farms and retail shops in the supply chain. In total, 645 vegetable samples were collected between February 2023 and January 2024. Forty to sixty samples of each vegetable were collected monthly, with approximately 20 random samples collected per month. The vegetable samples included parsley ( Petroselinum crispum ), cilantro ( Coriandrum sativum ), broccoli ( Brassica oleracea ), cauliflower ( Brassicaceae family ), bhathua ( Chenopodium album ), purslane ( Portulaca oleracea ), long lettuce ( Lactuca dolichophylla ), spinach ( Spinacia oleracea ), fenugreek ( Trigonella foenum-graecum ), beetroot ( Beta vulgaris subsp. Amaranthaceae family) , Celery. ( Apium graveolens ), and cabbage ( Brassica oleracea var. capital ). 2.2 Sample processing The surface of green leafy vegetable skin was debris, and microbes were removed from each sample with sterile warm water 4–5 times and cut to the blade; a 10 g portion from each was weighed and transferred to individual pots for lysate. The samples were homogenized by adding 90 ml of sterilized water and a ready suspension [ 12 ]. 2.3 Microbiological analysis One milliliter of the vegetable sample lysate was mixed with 10 ml of LB broth in a test tube and incubated for 24–48 hours at 37°C [ 13 ]. After incubation, the medium was placed on solid agar. The bacterial colonies were streaked onto SS agar, BS agar, HE agar, and XLD agar and incubated at 37°C for 48 to 72 hours. After incubation, 4–5 different types of bacterial colonies were produced. The characterized black colonies reporting Salmonella spp. were isolated, and their glycerol stock was pressured for further isolation. 2.4 Identification of Salmonella Salmonella was identified based on motility, morphology, Gram staining, colony characteristics, and biochemical test results. Positive samples displayed distinct colonies in various media including SS, BSA, HEA, TSI, and XLD. The isolates from green leafy raw vegetables formed small, round, smooth, and black colonies on SS and XLD agar. 2.5 Biochemical characteristics Biochemical characterization of bacterial isolates was performed using the HI media biochemical kit, which contains 20 biochemical tests including indole, methyl red, Voges Proskauer’s, Citrate Utilization, Citrate Utilization, Glucose, Adonitol, Arabinose, Lactose, Sorbitol, Mannitol, Rhamnose, Sucrose, H2S Production, Lysine Utilization, Ornithine Utilization, Urease, Phenylalanine Deamination, Nitrate reduction, triple sugar Iron, Moeller Decarboxylase Broth Lysine Hydrochloride. 2.6 Analysis of the isolated Salmonella ’s AST Antimicrobial testing was performed according to the CLSI (2012) guidelines. 47 antimicrobial agents were tested against each of the 15 Salmonella isolates. Isolates were grown in LB broth to a turbidity of 0.5, McFarland standards, using sterile cotton swabs, and the bacterial inoculum was spread onto MHA plates. Antibiotic discs were placed immediately after the bacterial inoculation. In total of forty-seven (47) antibiotics were used for each of the 15 isolates. Cephalexin (30 mcg), Clindamycin (2 mcg), Co-Trimoxazole (Sulpha/Trimethoprim) (25mcg), Erythromycin (15mcg), Gentamicin (10mcg), Ofloxacin (5mcg), Penicillin-G (10units), Vancomycin (30mcg), Ampicillin (10mcg), Chloramphenicol (30mcg), Oxacillin (1mcg), Linezolid (30mcg), Azithromycin (15mcg), Amikacin (30mcg), Clarithromycin (15mcg), Teicoplanin (10mcg), Methicillin (5mcg), Amoxycillin/Clavulanic acid (30mcg), Novobiocin (5mcg), Tetracycline (30mcg), Norfloxacin (10mcg), Cefuroxime (30mcg), Ciprofloxacin (5mcg), Cefoperazone (75mcg), Ceftazidime (30mcg), Roxithromycin (30mcg), Levofloxacin (5mcg), Netilmicin Sulphate (30mcg), Cefaclor (30 mcg), Cefotaxime (Cephalexin) (30mcg), Ampicillin/Cloxacillin (10mcg), Sparfloxacin (5mcg), Ampicillin/Sulbactam (10mcg), Imipenem (10mcg), Tobramycin (10mcg), Moxifloxacin (5mcg), Colistin (Methane Sulphonate) (10mcg), Nalidixic acid (30mcg), Augmentin (30mcg), Cefoxitin (Cephoxitin) (30mcg), Gatifloxacin (5mcg), Aztreonam (30mcg), Ceftriaxone (30mcg), Cefpodoxime (10mcg), Nitrofurantoin (300mcg), and Cloxacillin (1mcg). The results were interpreted as sensitive, intermediate, or resistant according to the inhibitory zone diameters around the disks using CLSI breakpoints. 3 Results Biochemical examination Biochemical tests were performed to confirm Salmonella spp. using indole, methyl red, Voges Proskauer, Citrate Utilization, Citrate Utilization, Glucose, Adonitol, Arabinose, Lactose, Sorbitol, Mannitol, Rhamnose, Sucrose, H2S Production, Lysine Utilization, Ornithine Utilization, Urease, Phenylalanine Deamination, Nitrate reduction, triple sugar Iron, Moeller Decarboxylase Broth Lysine Hydrochloride (Table 1) . Table 1: Biochemical characteristics of Salmonella isolates Test Reaction Indole - Methyl red + VP test - Citrate Utilization + Glucose + Adonitol - Arabinose + Lactose + Sorbitol - Mannitol + Rhamnose + Sucrose - Ornithine Utilization - Lysine Utilization - Urease + Phenylalanine Deamination - Nitrate reduction + H 2 S production + Triple sugar iron + Moeller Decarboxylase Broth Lysine Hydrochloride - Salmonella was identified in 61 of the 645 vegetable samples (9.45 %). ( Table 2) shows the frequency of Salmonella detection in 15 green leafy vegetables during different months. Cilantro, Fenugreek, and cabbage produced the highest Salmonella contamination in the given period. Salmonella spp. was absent in green chilli, onion, and green peas. However, cauliflower, purslane, parsley, and spinach exhibited moderate Salmonella contamination. Periodic frequency of Salmonella isolates in period from February 2023 – January 2024 The most frequent Salmonella spp. identified in green leafy vegetables were non-typhoidal Salmonella spp. However, S . typhi and S . Paratyphi were absent in all samples tested in the present study. The highest number of Salmonella positive samples were isolated in February 2023, August 2023, and January 2024 (Figure 1). Table 2 Frequency of Salmonella isolated from different green vegetables over February (2023) to January (2024). Month Parsley Cilantro Broccoli Cauliflower Bhathua Purslane Long lettuce Spinach Fenugreek Beetroot Celery Cabbage Green chilli Onion Green pea Total February-2023 3 1/3 3 1/3 2/3 3 1/3 3 3 1/3 3 1/3 3 3 3 7/45 March-2023 1/4 4 1/4 4 1/4 1/4 4 4 4 4 4 2/4 4 4 4 6/60 April-2023 1/4 4 4 1/4 1/4 4 1/4 4 1/4 4 4 4 4 4 4 5/60 May-2023 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 1/3 3 3 1/3 3 3 3 2/45 June-2023 1/3 3 3 3 3 3 3 1/3 1/3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3/45 July-2023 4 1/4 1/4 4 4 1/4 4 4 4 1/4 1/4 4 4 4 4 5/60 August-2023 5 5 5 1/5 5 1/5 1/5 2/5 2/5 5 5 1/5 5 5 5 8/75 September-2023 4 1/4 1/4 4 4 4 1/4 4 1/4 1/4 4 2/4 4 4 4 7/60 October-2023 2 2 2 2 1/2 2 2 2 2 2 1/2 2 2 2 2 2/30 November-2023 2 2 2 1/2 1/2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2/30 December-2023 1/4 4 4 1/4 1/4 1/4 4 1/4 1/4 4 4 4 4 4 4 6/60 January-2024 1/5 5 5 1/5 1/5 1/5 5 1/5 1/5 5 1/5 1/5 5 5 5 8/75 Total 5/43 3/43 3/43 6/43 8/43 5/43 4/43 5/43 8/43 3/43 3/43 8/43 0/43 0/43 0/43 61/645 Values in the table represent the number of Salmonella positives/total samples collected from a specific vegetable. 3.1 Antibiotic susceptibility testing The disc diffusion technique was used to test antibiotic sensitivity and resistance against 47 different classes of antibiotics following the recommendations of the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute [14]. Among the 15 isolates, the fourteen isolates were reported resistant to Methicillin (5mcg) (93.33%), thirteen isolates (80%) were reported resistant to Clindamycin (2mcg), Teicoplanin (10mcg) and Cefpodoxime (10mcg), and eight isolates were reported resistant to (53.33%) of Linezolid (30mcg), Novobiocin (5mcg), Colistin (Methane Sulphonate) (10mcg), Nitrofurantoin (300mcg), whereas the fourteen isolates were found sensitive to (93.3%) Sparfloxacin (5mcg), thirteen isolates (80%) were sensitive to Co-Trimoxazole (Sulpha/Trimethoprim) (25mcg), Ampicillin (10mcg), Cefotaxime (Cepholexime) (30mcg), Ampicillin/ Sulbactam (10mcg), and eleven isolates (73%) were reported sensitive to Cefoperazone (75mcg), Ceftriaxone (30mcg) ( Table 3) . Table 3 Antibiotics results of Salmonella spp. isolates (Total isolates = 15) S No. Antibiotic Name Code Resistant Intermediate Sensitive 1 Cephalexin (30mcg) CEP 0% (0/15) 33.33 % (5/15) 66.67 % (10/15) 2 Clindamycin (2mcg) CD 80 % (12/15) 13.33 % (2/15) 6.67 % (1/15) 3 Co-Trimoxazole (Sulpha/Trimethoprim) (25mcg) COT 0 % (0/15) 20 % (3/15) 80 % (12/15) 4 Erythromycin (15mcg) E 40 % (6/15) 33.33 % (5/15) 26.67 % (4/15) 5 Gentamicin (10mcg) GEN 6.67 % (1/15) 20 % (3/15) 46.67 % (7/15) 6 Ofloxacin (5mcg) OF 6.67 % (1/15) 46.67 % (7/15) 46.67 % (7/15) 7 Penicillin-G (10units) P 33.33 % (5/15) 40 % (6/15) 26.67 % (4/15) 8 Vancomycin (30mcg) VA 26.67 % (4/15) 53.33 % (8/15) 20 % (3/15) 9 Ampicillin (10mcg) AMP 6.67 % (1/15) 13.33 % (2/15) 80 % (12/15) 10 Chloramphenicol (30mcg) C 46.67 % (7/15) 40 % (6/15) 13.33 % (2/15) 11 Oxacillin (1mcg) OX 40 % (6/15) 40 % (6/15) 20 % (3/15) 12 Linezolid (30mcg) LZ 53.33 % (8/15) 33.33 % (5/15) 13.33 % (2/15) 13 Azithromycin (15mcg) AZM 13.33 % (2/15) 53.33 % (8/15) 33.33 % (5/15) 14 Amikacin (30mcg) AK 13.33 % (2/15) 66.67 % (10/15) 20 % (3/15) 15 Clarithromycin (15mcg) CLR 20 % (3/15) 66.67 % (10/15) 13.33 % (2/15) 16 Teicoplanin (10mcg) TEI 80 % (12/15) 13.33 % (2/15) 6.67 % (1/15) 17 Methicillin (5mcg) MET 93.33 % (14/15) 6.67 % (1/15) 0 % (0/15) 18 Amoxycillin/Clavulanic acid (30mcg) AMC 20 % (3/15) 60 % (9/15) 20 % (3/15) 19 Novobiocin (5mcg) NV 53.33 % (8/15) 26.67 % (4/15) 20 % (3/15) 20 Tetracycline (30mcg) TE 26.67 % (4/15) 53.33 % (8/15) 20 % (3/15) 22 Norfloxacin (10mcg) NX 0 % (0/15) 33.33 % (5/15) 66.67 % (10/15) 23 Cefuroxime (30mcg) CXM 0 % (0/15) 40 % (6/15) 60 % (9/15) 24 Ciprofloxacin (5mcg) CIP 0 % (0/15) 46.67 % (7/15) 53.33 % (8/15) 25 Cefoperazone (75mcg) CPZ 0 % (0/15) 26.67 % (4/15) 73.33 % (11/15) 26 Ceftazidime (30mcg) CAZ 0 % (0/15) 33.33 % (5/15) 66.67 % (10/15) 27 Roxithromycin (30mcg) RO 33.33 % (5/15) 53.33 % (8/15) 13.33 % (2/15) 28 Levofloxacin (5mcg) LE 6.67 % (1/15) 66.67 % (10/15) 26.67 % (4/15) 29 Netilmicin Sulphate (30mcg) NET 13.33 % (2/15) 40 % (6/15) 46.67 % (7/15) 30 Cefaclor (30mcg) CF 6.67 % (1/15) 33.33 % (5/15) 60 % (9/15) 31 Cefotaxime (Cepholexime) (30mcg) CTX 6.67 % (1/15) 13.33 % (2/15) 80 % (12/15) 32 Ampicillin/ Cloxacillin (10mcg) AX 26.67 % (4/15) 40 % (6/15) 33.33 % (5/15) 33 Sparfloxacin (5mcg) SPX 0 % (0/15) 6.67 % (1/15) 93.33 % (14/15) 34 Ampicillin/ Sulbactam (10mcg) A/S 6.67 % (1/15) 13.33 % (2/15) 80 % (12/15) 35 Imipenem (10mcg) IPM 20 % (3/15) 40 % (6/15) 40 % (6/15) 36 Tobramycin (10mcg) TOB 13.33 % (2/15) 40 % (6/15) 46.67% (7/15) 37 Moxifloxacin (5mcg) MO 26.67 % (4/15) 40 % (6/15) 33.33 % (5/15) 38 Colistin (Methane Sulphonate) (10mcg) CL 53.33 % (8/15) 26.67 % (4/15) 20 % (3/15) 39 Nalidixic Acid (30mcg) NA 33.33 % (5/15) 40 % (6/15) 26.67 % (4/15) 40 Augmentin (30mcg) AMC 6.67 % (1/15) 60 % (9/15) 33.33 % (5/15) 41 Cefoxitin (Cephoxitin) (30mcg) CX 13.33 % (2/15) 40 % (6/15) 46.67 % (7/15) 42 Gatifloxacin (5mcg) GAT 6.67 % (1/15) 33.33 % (5/15) 60 % (9/15) 43 Aztreonam (30mcg) AT 33.33 % (5/15) 53.33 % (8/15) 13.33 % (2/15) 44 Ceftriaxone (30mcg) CTR 6.67 % (1/15) 20 % (3/15) 73.33 % (11/15) 45 Cefpodoxime (10mcg) CPD 80 % (12/15) 6.67 % (1/15) 13.33 % (2/15) 46 Nitrofurantoin (300mcg) NIT 53.33 % (8/15) 13.33 % (2/15) 33.33 % (5/15) 47 Cloxacillin (1mcg) COX 6.67 % (1/15) 26.67 % (4/15) 66.67 % (10/15) Resistant- CPD, NIT, NV, MET, TEI, OX, LZ, E, CD, RO, CLR, VA; Moderately sensitive - CX, NA, CL, AX, AZM, CEP, TE, AMP; Sensitive - CTZ, OF, AK, AMC, CPZ, TOB, IPM, GEN; Most sensitive - CTR, C, CIP, AT, CAZ, P, COT, COX, A/S, SPX, CF, NET, CXM, NF 4. Discussion This study confirms the high prevalence of Salmonella contamination in fresh vegetables of commercial and home-grown green leafy vegetables in Dehradun. The study was conducted over a period of one year from Feb-2023 to Jan-2024 10 different sites were used for periodic sample collection. The vegetable samples were processed using standardized protocols. Although transmission pathways have not been investigated, published reports have provided insights into potential contamination routes. A high incidence of Salmonella infection in green leafy vegetables was reported in February, August 2023, and January 2024. In August, high humidity and temperature may be responsible for the high incidence, whereas contaminated water and manure are a major reason for the high bacterial load in vegetables in January and February. In Dehradun, bacterial contamination may originate from poor farm production and handling practices, cross-contamination during transportation, and poor hygiene and sanitation practices in markets. Green leafy vegetables exhibit antibiotic resistance [ 15 ], including Staphylococcus aureus , teicoplanin, methicillin, and cefpodoxime, primarily due to the erm gene, teicoplanin, and ESBL-producing Enterobacteriaceae , causing widespread concern [ 16 ]. Green leafy vegetables seem to be particularly susceptible to Salmonella [ 17 ]. The susceptibility of green leafy vegetables to contamination by bacterial pathogens has been previously reported in multiple foodborne outbreaks, specifically those involving E. coli, Listeria, Coliform, Campylobacter and Salmonella in the United States [ 18 ]. Green leafy vegetable matrices and stomata protect bacteria from washing water and disinfectants, thereby increasing the likelihood of pathogen survival and contamination. Previous studies have shown that Salmonella is multidrug resistant. In this study, 21 Salmonella isolates were resistant to at least one antibacterial agent, and most isolates exhibited multi-drug resistance, mainly to tetracycline, ciprofloxacin, streptomycin, and erythromycin. Salmonella strains are resistant to streptomycin, tetracyclines, and quinolones, with tetracycline resistance genes showing the highest detection rates, suggesting that resistance may be related to antimicrobial resistance genes [ 19 ]. Antibiotic resistance rates have increased owing to overuse in agriculture and healthcare, environmental contamination (water irrigation and manure), and local agricultural practices. Green leafy vegetables show similar patterns in clinical settings. Regions with intensive farming activities and high antibiotic use have reported higher resistance rates [ 15 ]. Teicoplanin resistance remains low, but concerns have arisen owing to horizontal gene transfer. Cefpodoxime resistance also increased in some areas. In India, vegetable production is dominated by small-scale producers, categorized as farmers holding less than 2 hectares of irrigated land [ 20 ]. However, small-scale producers have limited financial and technical support to market fresh produce with high-quality standards [ 21 ]. Due to the perishable nature of produce and limited cold storage facilities, small-scale farmers primarily sell fresh vegetables directly to consumers on the roadside or farmers' markets, where sanitary and hygiene conditions are poor [ 22 ]. A recent report revealed that Indian fruits and vegetables are among the Asia-Pacific countries with the highest microbiological hazards when exported to European countries [ 23 ]. Small Indian vegetable producers lack food safety practices, resulting in high production and consumption. Researchers have investigated vegetable safety because compromised food security poses a global threat to a country's development [ 24 ]. Foodborne pathogens such as Salmonella, Escherichia coli O157, Staphylococcus aureus , and norovirus encounter edible plant parts because of poor agricultural and hygiene practices in the production chain [ 25 ]. Vegetables in India face a high risk of cross-contamination including contaminated irrigation water, soil, manure, poor hygiene, and unhygienic handling by farm workers and consumers [ 26 , 27 ]. Unhygienic handling of fresh produce by shopkeepers and consumers and open field conditions for vegetable cultivation increases the risk of foodborne pathogen contamination [ 28 ]. Foodborne pathogens can persist in any of the field components and cross-contaminate fresh produce, depending on the production type and practices involved in different steps of production [ 29 ]. Fresh vegetables from fields are decontaminated, compromising their quality due to microbial hazards in the pre-harvest stages, transport, and shop handling, requiring improved hygiene indicators and sanitary levels [ 30 ]. The necessity for present consumers to eat nutritious, safe, and clean fruits and vegetables urges the surveillance of hygiene indicators and foodborne pathogens at each point from farm to fork to ensure food safety [ 31 ]. The fresh produce implicated as vectors of foodborne pathogens has been source tracked to the contamination in the primary production system for the pathogens Salmonella norovirus, and E. coli O157:H7 [ 32 , 33 ]. With a well-researched surveillance system, foodborne outbreaks in developed countries have been well documented and traced to cross-contamination in the market and primary production environment [ 34 , 7 ]. However, in India, no attempts have been made to survey sanitary quality and foodborne pathogens in the fresh vegetable production chain of small-scale producers. This study revealed that 9.45% of fresh vegetable samples in Dehradun, India contains Salmonella , a foodborne pathogen associated with common vegetables. The high risk of exposure to potential human pathogens in the field and market is exacerbated by eating raw vegetables alone or in combination with low-processing foods. Further research is needed to expand the scope and improve epidemiological surveillance. Declarations Ethics approval and consent to participate Not applicable Consent for publication Not applicable Funding None Data availability Data will be made available on request Authorship contributions R K: writing original draft, methodology, investigation, N K: editing, N K: review, and P G: writing and editing, visualization, conceptualization. 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Extended-spectrum-β-lactamase-producing Enterobacteriaceae isolated from vegetables imported from the Dominican Republic, India, Thailand, and Vietnam. Applied and environmental microbiology , 81 (9), 3115–3120. https://doi.org/10.1128/AEM.00258-15 GBD 2017 Non-Typhoidal Salmonella Invasive Disease Collaborators (2019). The global burden of non-typhoidal salmonella invasive disease: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2017. The Lancet. Infectious diseases, 19(12), 1312–1324. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1473-3099(19)30418-9 Bajaj, S., & Dudeja, P. (2019). Food poisoning outbreak in a religious mass gathering. Medical journal, Armed Forces India, 75(3), 339–343. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mjafi.2018.12.015 Kowalska B. (2023). Fresh vegetables and fruit as a source of Salmonella bacteria. Annals of agricultural and environmental medicine : AAEM , 30 (1), 9–14. https://doi.org/10.26444/aaem/156765 Cao, C., Zhao, W., Lü, Z., Mo, Y., Hu, W., Sun, S., Cheng, H., Ma, J., Xiong, S., Jin, X., Yang, H., Bai, L., Cui, S., & Yang, B. (2023). Microbiological analysis and characterization of Salmonella and ciprofloxacin-resistant Escherichia coli isolates recovered from retail fresh vegetables in Shaanxi Province, China. International journal of food microbiology , 387 , 110053. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijfoodmicro.2022.110053 Quiroz-Santiago, C., Rodas-Suárez, O. R., Carlos R, V., Fernández, F. J., Quiñones-Ramírez, E. I., & Vázquez-Salinas, C. (2009). Prevalence of Salmonella in vegetables from Mexico. Journal of food protection , 72 (6), 1279–1282. https://doi.org/10.4315/0362-028x-72.6.1279 Hombach, M., Bloemberg, G. V., & Böttger, E. C. (2012). 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(2017). Outbreaks and factors influencing microbiological contamination of fresh produce. Journal of the science of food and agriculture , 97 (5), 1396–1403. https://doi.org/10.1002/jsfa.8125 Zhao, X., Yang, J., Zhang, B., Sun, S., & Chang, W. (2017). Characterization of Integrons and Resistance Genes in Salmonella Isolates from Farm Animals in Shandong Province, China. Frontiers in microbiology , 8 , 1300. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2017.01300 Nuthalapati, C. S. R., Sutradhar, R., Reardon, T., & Qaim, M. (2020). Supermarket procurement and farmgate prices in India. World Development, 134(105034), 105034. doi:10.1016/j.worlddev.2020.105034 Holzapfel, S., & Hampel-Milagrosa, A. (2020). Global and national food safety and quality standards: Implications and impacts for farmers in Thailand and India. In Sustainability Standards and Global Governance (pp. 163–186). doi:10.1007/978-981-15-3473-7_10 Negi, S., & Anand, N. (2015). Cold chain: a weak link in the fruits and vegetables supply chain in India. IUP Journal of Supply Chain Management, 12(1). Dada, A. C., Somorin, Y. M., Ateba, C. N., Onyeaka, H., Anyogu, A., Kasan, N. A., & Odeyemi, O. A. (2021). Microbiological hazards associated with food products imported from the Asia-Pacific region based on analysis of the rapid alert system for food and feed (RASFF) notifications. Food Control , 129 (108243), 108243. doi:10.1016/j.foodcont.2021.108243 Naia, L., Carmo, C., Campesan, S., Fão, L., Cotton, V. E., Valero, J., Lopes, C., Rosenstock, T. R., Giorgini, F., & Rego, A. C. (2021). Mitochondrial SIRT3 confers neuroprotection in Huntington's disease by regulation of oxidative challenges and mitochondrial dynamics. Free radical biology & medicine, 163, 163–179. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2020.11.031 Alegbeleye, O. O., Singleton, I., & Sant'Ana, A. S. (2018). Sources and contamination routes of microbial pathogens to fresh produce during field cultivation: A review. Food microbiology , 73 , 177–208. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fm.2018.01.003 Gurtler, J. B., & Gibson, K. E. (2022). Irrigation water and contamination of fresh produce with bacterial foodborne pathogens. Current Opinion in Food Science , 47 (100889), 100889. doi:10.1016/j.cofs.2022.100889 Kundu, A., Wuertz, S., & Smith, W. A. (2018). Quantitative microbial risk assessment to estimate the risk of diarrheal diseases from fresh produce consumption in India. Food microbiology , 75 , 95–102. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fm.2018.01.017 Duchenne-Moutien, R. A., & Neetoo, H. (2021). Climate Change and Emerging Food Safety Issues: A Review. Journal of food protection , 84 (11), 1884–1897. https://doi.org/10.4315/JFP-21-141 Sai, B. (2019). Prevalence of Shiga-like toxin producing Escherichia coli strain (E. coli O157) in freshly consumed vegetables and its characterization. Journal of Food Safety, 39(1). Heredia, N., Caballero, C., Cárdenas, C., Molina, K., García, R., Solís, L., Burrowes, V., Bartz, F. E., de Aceituno, A. F., Jaykus, L. A., García, S., & Leon, J. (2016). Microbial Indicator Profiling of Fresh Produce and Environmental Samples from Farms and Packing Facilities in Northern Mexico. Journal of food protection , 79 (7), 1197–1209. https://doi.org/10.4315/0362-028X.JFP-15-499 Balali, G. I., Yar, D. D., Afua Dela, V. G., & Adjei-Kusi, P. (2020). Microbial Contamination, an Increasing Threat to the Consumption of Fresh Fruits and Vegetables in Today's World. International journal of microbiology , 2020 , 3029295. https://doi.org/10.1155/2020/3029295 Tham, C. A. T., Zwe, Y. H., & Li, D. (2021). Microbial study of lettuce and agriculture water used for lettuce production at Singapore urban farms. Food Control , 126 (108065), 108065. doi:10.1016/j.foodcont.2021.108065 Emilse, P. V., Matías, V., Cecilia, M. L., Oscar, G. M., Gisela, M., Guadalupe, D., … Angélica, B. P. (2021). Enteric virus presence in green vegetables and associated irrigation waters in a rural area from Argentina. A quantitative microbial risk assessment. Lebensmittel-Wissenschaft Und Technologie [Food Science and Technology] , 144 (111201), 111201. doi:10.1016/j.lwt.2021.111201 Food safety and informal markets . (2014). doi:10.4324/9781315745046 Ferdous, R., Sultana, N., Hossain, M. B., Sultana, R. A., & Hoque, S. (2023). Exploring the potential human pathogenic bacteria in selected ready-to-eat leafy greens sold in Dhaka City, Bangladesh: Estimation of bacterial load and incidence. Food science & nutrition , 12 (2), 1105–1118. https://doi.org/10.1002/fsn3.3825 Additional Declarations No competing interests reported. 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Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-4585592","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Research Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":314860926,"identity":"d168b498-e6bc-4812-a7e7-f75796bfed72","order_by":0,"name":"Rahul Kumar","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Graphic Era University","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Rahul","middleName":"","lastName":"Kumar","suffix":""},{"id":314860928,"identity":"a8cb281d-d628-43d1-81dd-8dfb6801e54d","order_by":1,"name":"Neha Kamboj","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Graphic Era University","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Neha","middleName":"","lastName":"Kamboj","suffix":""},{"id":314860929,"identity":"a4ab49a1-c00e-43d3-af09-28c89cd8abbe","order_by":2,"name":"Navin Kumar","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Graphic Era University","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Navin","middleName":"","lastName":"Kumar","suffix":""},{"id":314860930,"identity":"8e607ae3-9dbd-44a9-9526-453ed57bda26","order_by":3,"name":"Pankaj Gautam","email":"data:image/png;base64,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","orcid":"","institution":"Graphic Era University","correspondingAuthor":true,"prefix":"","firstName":"Pankaj","middleName":"","lastName":"Gautam","suffix":""}],"badges":[],"createdAt":"2024-06-15 08:30:08","currentVersionCode":1,"declarations":"","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-4585592/v1","doiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-4585592/v1","draftVersion":[],"editorialEvents":[{"content":"https://doi.org/10.22207/JPAM.19.1.36","type":"published","date":"2025-02-27T00:00:00+00:00"}],"editorialNote":"","failedWorkflow":false,"files":[{"id":59478571,"identity":"9a0ee2d5-e63b-426c-bed9-383b57133310","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2024-07-02 09:25:58","extension":"jpg","order_by":1,"title":"Figure 1","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"figure","size":152727,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSalmonella\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/em\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e isolates frequency from February (2023) to January (2024) period.\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e","description":"","filename":"Figure1300.jpg","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-4585592/v1/b13f1caf8ea4471adf5d18c8.jpg"},{"id":77639313,"identity":"c9e15b4b-04b7-4237-9c9b-ed8a410a73b4","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-03-03 20:05:36","extension":"pdf","order_by":0,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"manuscript-pdf","size":1364790,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"manuscript.pdf","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-4585592/v1/2ac24e09-9df0-416e-94a0-9780de8f7d01.pdf"}],"financialInterests":"No competing interests reported.","formattedTitle":"Presence of antibiotic resistance non-typhoidal Salmonella spp. from green leafy vegetables in Dehradun","fulltext":[{"header":"1. Introduction","content":"\u003cp\u003e \u003cem\u003eSalmonella\u003c/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003eShigella\u003c/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003eListeria monocytogens\u003c/em\u003e, and pathogenic \u003cem\u003eEscherichia coli\u003c/em\u003e are frequently reported to cause severe enteric infections in humans. Disease outbreaks are often linked to the consumption of contaminated food and drinking water, especially in resource-poor areas [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR1\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003e]. Among other food sources, the consumption of raw green leafy vegetables is a major source of infection. \u003cem\u003eSalmonella\u003c/em\u003e species account for 153\u0026nbsp;million enteric infections and over 57,000 diarrheal deaths globally; one out of ten people falls ill due to foodborne diseases every year, with 33\u0026nbsp;million healthy lives lost [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR2\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2\u003c/span\u003e]. \u003cem\u003eSalmonella\u003c/em\u003e is a gram-negative flagellated bacterium that belongs to the Enterobacteriaceae family. Two genera of \u003cem\u003eSalmonella\u003c/em\u003e, bongori and enterica, comprise 2500 serovars that infect a wide range of hosts, including animals and humans, resulting in 94% food-based transmission [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR3\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e3\u003c/span\u003e]. \u003cem\u003eSalmonella\u003c/em\u003e spreads through feces, contaminated water, irrigation soil, manure, and field crops. Non-typhoidal \u003cem\u003eSalmonella\u003c/em\u003e (NTS) is a common cause of bacterial gastroenteritis in humans, causing 93.8\u0026nbsp;million cases of enteric infections globally each year and 155,000 deaths [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR4\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e4\u003c/span\u003e]. Foodborne bacterial outbreaks have been reported in the USA, Europe, and Asia-Pacific region. The Asia-Pacific region alone accounts for 275\u0026nbsp;million foodborne illnesses annually, with the Southeast Asian region registering the second highest burden.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eIndia has the highest annual rate of \u003cem\u003eSalmonella\u003c/em\u003e outbreaks, with West Bengal, Karnataka, and Gujarat reporting the highest numbers [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR35\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e35\u003c/span\u003e]. Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in foodborne bacteria can pose serious public health risks, with 297,000 deaths in 2019 and 1,042,500 deaths associated with AMR. According to a 2009\u0026ndash;2018 surveillance report, India reported 2,688 foodborne disease outbreaks, resulting in 153,745 illnesses and 572 deaths. The average annual rate of foodborne disease outbreaks was 2.2 per 10\u0026nbsp;million people, with a maximum of 3.2 in 2016. According to the 2022 NCBI study, the overall MDR pattern of common foodborne pathogens is 88.33% for \u003cem\u003eE. coli\u003c/em\u003e, 75% for \u003cem\u003eSalmonella\u003c/em\u003e, 95% for \u003cem\u003eStaphylococcus\u003c/em\u003e, and 100% for \u003cem\u003eStreptococcus\u003c/em\u003e. Bean consumption was shown to be a food vehicle responsible for maximum outbreaks (32.7%) among 19.6% of outbreaks. Furthermore, \u003cem\u003eSalmonella\u003c/em\u003e has been linked to outbreaks associated with fresh produce, including epidemics associated with lettuce in European nations [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR5\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e5\u003c/span\u003e]. Raw green leafy vegetables are among the most important forms of fresh vegetables in a balanced diet [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR6\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e6\u003c/span\u003e].\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eHowever, a persistent rise in the number of leafy, green-related disease outbreaks has caused serious concerns regarding food safety worldwide as well as human health [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR7\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e7\u003c/span\u003e]. The evaluation of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), including MDR in pathogenic E. coli and Salmonella strains in fresh produce, is a significant global food safety and human health concern [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR8\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e8\u003c/span\u003e]. In India, the primary cause of diarrheal illness in both adults and newborns is frequently \u003cem\u003eE. coli\u003c/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003eSalmonella\u003c/em\u003e [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR5\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e5\u003c/span\u003e]. However, \u003cem\u003eSalmonella\u003c/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003eE. coli\u003c/em\u003e are becoming increasingly associated with outbreaks of green-leaf-related diseases [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR9\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e9\u003c/span\u003e]. There is little evidence available that relates illness to green leafy vegetables [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR10\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e10\u003c/span\u003e]. To investigate the occurrence of \u003cem\u003eSalmonella\u003c/em\u003e pathotypes in green leafy vegetables in India [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR11\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e11\u003c/span\u003e]. The present study explored the pathogenic Bactria and Antibiotic resistance phenotypes in green leafy vegetables in the commercial and non-commercial Dehradun region.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"2 Methods","content":"\u003cdiv id=\"Sec3\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003e2.1 Collection of samples\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eVegetable samples were collected from ten different sites in Dehradun City, Uttarakhand, India, including growing farms and retail shops in the supply chain. In total, 645 vegetable samples were collected between February 2023 and January 2024. Forty to sixty samples of each vegetable were collected monthly, with approximately 20 random samples collected per month. The vegetable samples included parsley (\u003cem\u003ePetroselinum crispum\u003c/em\u003e), cilantro (\u003cem\u003eCoriandrum sativum\u003c/em\u003e), broccoli (\u003cem\u003eBrassica oleracea\u003c/em\u003e), cauliflower (\u003cem\u003eBrassicaceae family\u003c/em\u003e), bhathua (\u003cem\u003eChenopodium album\u003c/em\u003e), purslane (\u003cem\u003ePortulaca oleracea\u003c/em\u003e), long lettuce (\u003cem\u003eLactuca dolichophylla\u003c/em\u003e), spinach (\u003cem\u003eSpinacia oleracea\u003c/em\u003e), fenugreek (\u003cem\u003eTrigonella foenum-graecum\u003c/em\u003e), beetroot (\u003cem\u003eBeta vulgaris subsp. Amaranthaceae family)\u003c/em\u003e, Celery. (\u003cem\u003eApium graveolens\u003c/em\u003e), and cabbage (\u003cem\u003eBrassica oleracea var. capital\u003c/em\u003e).\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv id=\"Sec4\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003e2.2 Sample processing\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe surface of green leafy vegetable skin was debris, and microbes were removed from each sample with sterile warm water 4\u0026ndash;5 times and cut to the blade; a 10 g portion from each was weighed and transferred to individual pots for lysate. The samples were homogenized by adding 90 ml of sterilized water and a ready suspension [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR12\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e12\u003c/span\u003e].\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv id=\"Sec5\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003e2.3 Microbiological analysis\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eOne milliliter of the vegetable sample lysate was mixed with 10 ml of LB broth in a test tube and incubated for 24\u0026ndash;48 hours at 37\u0026deg;C [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR13\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e13\u003c/span\u003e]. After incubation, the medium was placed on solid agar. The bacterial colonies were streaked onto SS agar, BS agar, HE agar, and XLD agar and incubated at 37\u0026deg;C for 48 to 72 hours. After incubation, 4\u0026ndash;5 different types of bacterial colonies were produced. The characterized black colonies reporting \u003cem\u003eSalmonella\u003c/em\u003e spp. were isolated, and their glycerol stock was pressured for further isolation.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv id=\"Sec6\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003e2.4 Identification of \u003cem\u003eSalmonella\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cem\u003eSalmonella\u003c/em\u003e was identified based on motility, morphology, Gram staining, colony characteristics, and biochemical test results. Positive samples displayed distinct colonies in various media including SS, BSA, HEA, TSI, and XLD. The isolates from green leafy raw vegetables formed small, round, smooth, and black colonies on SS and XLD agar.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv id=\"Sec7\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003e2.5 Biochemical characteristics\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eBiochemical characterization of bacterial isolates was performed using the HI media biochemical kit, which contains 20 biochemical tests including indole, methyl red, Voges Proskauer\u0026rsquo;s, Citrate Utilization, Citrate Utilization, Glucose, Adonitol, Arabinose, Lactose, Sorbitol, Mannitol, Rhamnose, Sucrose, H2S Production, Lysine Utilization, Ornithine Utilization, Urease, Phenylalanine Deamination, Nitrate reduction, triple sugar Iron, Moeller Decarboxylase Broth Lysine Hydrochloride.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv id=\"Sec8\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003e2.6 Analysis of the isolated \u003cem\u003eSalmonella\u003c/em\u003e\u0026rsquo;s AST\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eAntimicrobial testing was performed according to the CLSI (2012) guidelines. 47 antimicrobial agents were tested against each of the 15 \u003cem\u003eSalmonella\u003c/em\u003e isolates. Isolates were grown in LB broth to a turbidity of 0.5, McFarland standards, using sterile cotton swabs, and the bacterial inoculum was spread onto MHA plates. Antibiotic discs were placed immediately after the bacterial inoculation. In total of forty-seven (47) antibiotics were used for each of the 15 isolates. Cephalexin (30 mcg), Clindamycin (2 mcg), Co-Trimoxazole (Sulpha/Trimethoprim) (25mcg), Erythromycin (15mcg), Gentamicin (10mcg), Ofloxacin (5mcg), Penicillin-G (10units), Vancomycin (30mcg), Ampicillin (10mcg), Chloramphenicol (30mcg), Oxacillin (1mcg), Linezolid (30mcg), Azithromycin (15mcg), Amikacin (30mcg), Clarithromycin (15mcg), Teicoplanin (10mcg), Methicillin (5mcg), Amoxycillin/Clavulanic acid (30mcg), Novobiocin (5mcg), Tetracycline (30mcg), Norfloxacin (10mcg), Cefuroxime (30mcg), Ciprofloxacin (5mcg), Cefoperazone (75mcg), Ceftazidime (30mcg), Roxithromycin (30mcg), Levofloxacin (5mcg), Netilmicin Sulphate (30mcg), Cefaclor (30 mcg), Cefotaxime (Cephalexin) (30mcg), Ampicillin/Cloxacillin (10mcg), Sparfloxacin (5mcg), Ampicillin/Sulbactam (10mcg), Imipenem (10mcg), Tobramycin (10mcg), Moxifloxacin (5mcg), Colistin (Methane Sulphonate) (10mcg), Nalidixic acid (30mcg), Augmentin (30mcg), Cefoxitin (Cephoxitin) (30mcg), Gatifloxacin (5mcg), Aztreonam (30mcg), Ceftriaxone (30mcg), Cefpodoxime (10mcg), Nitrofurantoin (300mcg), and Cloxacillin (1mcg). The results were interpreted as sensitive, intermediate, or resistant according to the inhibitory zone diameters around the disks using CLSI breakpoints.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e"},{"header":"3 Results","content":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBiochemical examination\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBiochemical tests were performed to confirm \u003cem\u003eSalmonella\u003c/em\u003e spp. using indole, methyl red, Voges Proskauer, Citrate Utilization, Citrate Utilization, Glucose, Adonitol, Arabinose, Lactose, Sorbitol, Mannitol, Rhamnose, Sucrose, H2S Production, Lysine Utilization, Ornithine Utilization, Urease, Phenylalanine Deamination, Nitrate reduction, triple sugar Iron, Moeller Decarboxylase Broth Lysine Hydrochloride \u003cstrong\u003e(Table 1)\u003c/strong\u003e.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTable 1: Biochemical characteristics of \u003cem\u003eSalmonella\u003c/em\u003e isolates\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ctable border=\"1\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\"\u003e\n \u003ctbody\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"62.94277929155314%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTest\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"37.05722070844686%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eReaction\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"62.94277929155314%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eIndole\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"37.05722070844686%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"62.94277929155314%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eMethyl red\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"37.05722070844686%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e+\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"62.94277929155314%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eVP test\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"37.05722070844686%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"62.94277929155314%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eCitrate Utilization\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"37.05722070844686%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e+\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"62.94277929155314%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eGlucose\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"37.05722070844686%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e+\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"62.94277929155314%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eAdonitol\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"37.05722070844686%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"62.94277929155314%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eArabinose\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"37.05722070844686%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e+\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"62.94277929155314%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eLactose\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"37.05722070844686%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e+\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"62.94277929155314%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eSorbitol\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"37.05722070844686%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"62.94277929155314%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eMannitol\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"37.05722070844686%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e+\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"62.94277929155314%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eRhamnose\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"37.05722070844686%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e+\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"62.94277929155314%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eSucrose\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"37.05722070844686%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"62.94277929155314%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eOrnithine Utilization\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"37.05722070844686%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"62.94277929155314%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eLysine Utilization\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"37.05722070844686%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"62.94277929155314%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eUrease\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"37.05722070844686%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e+\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"62.94277929155314%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003ePhenylalanine Deamination\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"37.05722070844686%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"62.94277929155314%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eNitrate reduction\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"37.05722070844686%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e+\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"62.94277929155314%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eH\u003csub\u003e2\u003c/sub\u003eS production\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"37.05722070844686%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e+\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"62.94277929155314%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eTriple sugar iron\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"37.05722070844686%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e+\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"62.94277929155314%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eMoeller Decarboxylase Broth Lysine Hydrochloride\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"37.05722070844686%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003c/tbody\u003e\n\u003c/table\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eSalmonella\u003c/em\u003e was identified in 61 of the 645 vegetable samples (9.45 %). \u003cstrong\u003e(\u003c/strong\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTable 2)\u003c/strong\u003e shows the frequency of \u003cem\u003eSalmonella\u003c/em\u003e detection in 15 green leafy vegetables during different months. Cilantro, Fenugreek, and cabbage produced the highest \u003cem\u003eSalmonella\u003c/em\u003e contamination in the given period. \u003cem\u003eSalmonella\u003c/em\u003e spp. was absent in green chilli, onion, and green peas. However, cauliflower, purslane, parsley, and spinach exhibited moderate \u003cem\u003eSalmonella\u003c/em\u003e contamination.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePeriodic frequency of\u003cem\u003e\u0026nbsp;Salmonella\u003c/em\u003e isolates in period from February 2023 \u0026ndash; January 2024\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe most frequent \u003cem\u003eSalmonella\u003c/em\u003e spp. identified in green leafy vegetables were non-typhoidal \u003cem\u003eSalmonella\u003c/em\u003e spp. However, \u003cem\u003eS\u003c/em\u003e. typhi and \u003cem\u003eS\u003c/em\u003e. Paratyphi were absent in all samples tested in the present study. The highest number of \u003cem\u003eSalmonella\u003c/em\u003e positive samples were isolated in February 2023, August 2023, and January 2024 \u003cstrong\u003e(Figure 1).\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTable 2 Frequency of \u003cem\u003eSalmonella\u003c/em\u003e isolated from different green vegetables over February (2023) to January (2024).\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv align=\"center\"\u003e\n \u003ctable border=\"1\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" width=\"984\"\u003e\n \u003ctbody\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"8.028455284552846%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMonth\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"5.3861788617886175%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eParsley\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"5.894308943089431%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eCilantro\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"6.097560975609756%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eBroccoli\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"7.82520325203252%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eCauliflower\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"5.894308943089431%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eBhathua\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"6.097560975609756%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003ePurslane\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"5.08130081300813%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eLong lettuce\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"5.7926829268292686%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eSpinach\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"7.1138211382113825%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eFenugreek\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"6.097560975609756%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eBeetroot\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"5.08130081300813%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eCelery\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"6.097560975609756%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eCabbage\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"4.776422764227642%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eGreen chilli\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"4.776422764227642%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eOnion\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"4.776422764227642%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eGreen pea\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"5.182926829268292%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTotal\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"8.028455284552846%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFebruary-2023\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"5.3861788617886175%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e3\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"5.894308943089431%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1/3\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"6.097560975609756%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e3\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"7.82520325203252%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1/3\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"5.894308943089431%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e2/3\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"6.097560975609756%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e3\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"5.08130081300813%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1/3\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"5.7926829268292686%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e3\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"7.1138211382113825%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e3\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"6.097560975609756%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1/3\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"5.08130081300813%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e3\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"6.097560975609756%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1/3\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"4.776422764227642%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e3\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"4.776422764227642%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e3\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"4.776422764227642%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e3\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"5.182926829268292%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e7/45\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"8.028455284552846%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMarch-2023\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"5.3861788617886175%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1/4\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"5.894308943089431%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e4\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"6.097560975609756%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1/4\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"7.82520325203252%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e4\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"5.894308943089431%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1/4\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"6.097560975609756%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1/4\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"5.08130081300813%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e4\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"5.7926829268292686%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e4\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"7.1138211382113825%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e4\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"6.097560975609756%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e4\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"5.08130081300813%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e4\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"6.097560975609756%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e2/4\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"4.776422764227642%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e4\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"4.776422764227642%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e4\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"4.776422764227642%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e4\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"5.182926829268292%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e6/60\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"8.028455284552846%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eApril-2023\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"5.3861788617886175%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1/4\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"5.894308943089431%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e4\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"6.097560975609756%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e4\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"7.82520325203252%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1/4\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"5.894308943089431%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1/4\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"6.097560975609756%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e4\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"5.08130081300813%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1/4\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"5.7926829268292686%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e4\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"7.1138211382113825%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1/4\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"6.097560975609756%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e4\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"5.08130081300813%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e4\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"6.097560975609756%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e4\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"4.776422764227642%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e4\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"4.776422764227642%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e4\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"4.776422764227642%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e4\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"5.182926829268292%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e5/60\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"8.028455284552846%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMay-2023\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"5.3861788617886175%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e3\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"5.894308943089431%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e3\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"6.097560975609756%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e3\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"7.82520325203252%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e3\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"5.894308943089431%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e3\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"6.097560975609756%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e3\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"5.08130081300813%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e3\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"5.7926829268292686%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e3\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"7.1138211382113825%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1/3\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"6.097560975609756%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e3\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"5.08130081300813%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e3\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"6.097560975609756%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1/3\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"4.776422764227642%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e3\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"4.776422764227642%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e3\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"4.776422764227642%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e3\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"5.182926829268292%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e2/45\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"8.028455284552846%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eJune-2023\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"5.3861788617886175%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1/3\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"5.894308943089431%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e3\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"6.097560975609756%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e3\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"7.82520325203252%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e3\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"5.894308943089431%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e3\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"6.097560975609756%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e3\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"5.08130081300813%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e3\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"5.7926829268292686%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1/3\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"7.1138211382113825%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1/3\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"6.097560975609756%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e3\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"5.08130081300813%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e3\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"6.097560975609756%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e3\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"4.776422764227642%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e3\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"4.776422764227642%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e3\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"4.776422764227642%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e3\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"5.182926829268292%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e3/45\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"8.028455284552846%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eJuly-2023\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"5.3861788617886175%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e4\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"5.894308943089431%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1/4\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"6.097560975609756%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1/4\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"7.82520325203252%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e4\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"5.894308943089431%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e4\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"6.097560975609756%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1/4\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"5.08130081300813%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e4\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"5.7926829268292686%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e4\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"7.1138211382113825%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e4\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"6.097560975609756%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1/4\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"5.08130081300813%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1/4\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"6.097560975609756%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e4\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"4.776422764227642%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e4\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"4.776422764227642%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e4\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"4.776422764227642%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e4\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"5.182926829268292%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e5/60\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"8.028455284552846%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAugust-2023\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"5.3861788617886175%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e5\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"5.894308943089431%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e5\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"6.097560975609756%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e5\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"7.82520325203252%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1/5\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"5.894308943089431%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e5\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"6.097560975609756%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1/5\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"5.08130081300813%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1/5\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"5.7926829268292686%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e2/5\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"7.1138211382113825%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e2/5\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"6.097560975609756%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e5\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"5.08130081300813%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e5\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"6.097560975609756%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1/5\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"4.776422764227642%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e5\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"4.776422764227642%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e5\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"4.776422764227642%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e5\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"5.182926829268292%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e8/75\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"8.028455284552846%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSeptember-2023\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"5.3861788617886175%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e4\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"5.894308943089431%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1/4\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"6.097560975609756%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1/4\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"7.82520325203252%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e4\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"5.894308943089431%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e4\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"6.097560975609756%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e4\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"5.08130081300813%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1/4\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"5.7926829268292686%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e4\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"7.1138211382113825%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1/4\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"6.097560975609756%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1/4\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"5.08130081300813%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e4\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"6.097560975609756%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e2/4\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"4.776422764227642%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e4\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"4.776422764227642%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e4\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"4.776422764227642%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e4\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"5.182926829268292%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e7/60\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"8.028455284552846%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOctober-2023\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"5.3861788617886175%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e2\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"5.894308943089431%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e2\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"6.097560975609756%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e2\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"7.82520325203252%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e2\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"5.894308943089431%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1/2\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"6.097560975609756%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e2\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"5.08130081300813%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e2\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"5.7926829268292686%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e2\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"7.1138211382113825%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e2\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"6.097560975609756%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e2\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"5.08130081300813%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1/2\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"6.097560975609756%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e2\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"4.776422764227642%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e2\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"4.776422764227642%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e2\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"4.776422764227642%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e2\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"5.182926829268292%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e2/30\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"8.028455284552846%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eNovember-2023\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"5.3861788617886175%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e2\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"5.894308943089431%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e2\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"6.097560975609756%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e2\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"7.82520325203252%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1/2\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"5.894308943089431%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1/2\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"6.097560975609756%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e2\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"5.08130081300813%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e2\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"5.7926829268292686%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e2\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"7.1138211382113825%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e2\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"6.097560975609756%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e2\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"5.08130081300813%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e2\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"6.097560975609756%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e2\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"4.776422764227642%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e2\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"4.776422764227642%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e2\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"4.776422764227642%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e2\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"5.182926829268292%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e2/30\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"8.028455284552846%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDecember-2023\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"5.3861788617886175%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1/4\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"5.894308943089431%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e4\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"6.097560975609756%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e4\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"7.82520325203252%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1/4\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"5.894308943089431%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1/4\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"6.097560975609756%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1/4\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"5.08130081300813%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e4\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"5.7926829268292686%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1/4\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"7.1138211382113825%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1/4\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"6.097560975609756%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e4\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"5.08130081300813%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e4\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"6.097560975609756%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e4\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"4.776422764227642%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e4\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"4.776422764227642%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e4\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"4.776422764227642%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e4\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"5.182926829268292%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e6/60\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"8.028455284552846%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eJanuary-2024\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"5.3861788617886175%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1/5\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"5.894308943089431%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e5\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"6.097560975609756%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e5\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"7.82520325203252%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1/5\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"5.894308943089431%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1/5\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"6.097560975609756%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1/5\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"5.08130081300813%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e5\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"5.7926829268292686%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1/5\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"7.1138211382113825%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1/5\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"6.097560975609756%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e5\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"5.08130081300813%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1/5\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"6.097560975609756%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1/5\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"4.776422764227642%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e5\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"4.776422764227642%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e5\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"4.776422764227642%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e5\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"5.182926829268292%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e8/75\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"8.028455284552846%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTotal\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"5.3861788617886175%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e5/43\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"5.894308943089431%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e3/43\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"6.097560975609756%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e3/43\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"7.82520325203252%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e6/43\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"5.894308943089431%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e8/43\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"6.097560975609756%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e5/43\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"5.08130081300813%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e4/43\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"5.7926829268292686%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e5/43\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"7.1138211382113825%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e8/43\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"6.097560975609756%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e3/43\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"5.08130081300813%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e3/43\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"6.097560975609756%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e8/43\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"4.776422764227642%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e0/43\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"4.776422764227642%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e0/43\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"4.776422764227642%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e0/43\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"5.182926829268292%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e61/645\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003c/tbody\u003e\n \u003c/table\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eValues in the table represent the number of \u003cem\u003eSalmonella\u003c/em\u003e positives/total samples collected from a specific vegetable. \u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e3.1 Antibiotic susceptibility testing\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe disc diffusion technique was used to test antibiotic sensitivity and resistance against 47 different classes of antibiotics following the recommendations of the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute [14]. Among the 15 isolates, the fourteen isolates were reported resistant to \u0026nbsp; Methicillin (5mcg) (93.33%), thirteen isolates (80%) were reported resistant to Clindamycin (2mcg), Teicoplanin (10mcg) and Cefpodoxime (10mcg), and eight isolates were reported resistant to (53.33%) of Linezolid (30mcg), Novobiocin (5mcg), Colistin (Methane Sulphonate) (10mcg), Nitrofurantoin (300mcg), whereas the fourteen isolates were found \u0026nbsp;sensitive to (93.3%) Sparfloxacin (5mcg), thirteen isolates (80%) were sensitive to \u0026nbsp;Co-Trimoxazole (Sulpha/Trimethoprim) (25mcg), Ampicillin (10mcg), Cefotaxime (Cepholexime) (30mcg), Ampicillin/ Sulbactam (10mcg), and eleven isolates (73%) were reported sensitive to Cefoperazone (75mcg), Ceftriaxone (30mcg) \u003cstrong\u003e(\u003c/strong\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTable 3)\u003c/strong\u003e.\u003cstrong\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTable 3 Antibiotics results of \u003cem\u003eSalmonella\u003c/em\u003e spp. isolates (Total isolates = 15)\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ctable border=\"1\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" width=\"640\"\u003e\n \u003ctbody\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"8.424336973478939%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eS No.\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"28.0811232449298%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAntibiotic Name\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"7.956318252730109%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCode\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"17.316692667706707%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eResistant\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"19.18876755070203%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIntermediate\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"19.03276131045242%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSensitive\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"8.424336973478939%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e1\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"28.0811232449298%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eCephalexin (30mcg)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"7.956318252730109%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eCEP\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"17.316692667706707%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0% (0/15)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"19.18876755070203%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e33.33 % (5/15)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"19.03276131045242%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e66.67 % (10/15)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"8.424336973478939%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e2\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"28.0811232449298%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eClindamycin (2mcg)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"7.956318252730109%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eCD\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"17.316692667706707%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e80 % (12/15)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"19.18876755070203%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e13.33 % (2/15)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"19.03276131045242%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e6.67 % (1/15)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"8.424336973478939%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e3\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"28.0811232449298%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eCo-Trimoxazole (Sulpha/Trimethoprim) (25mcg)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"7.956318252730109%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eCOT\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"17.316692667706707%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0 % (0/15)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"19.18876755070203%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e20 % (3/15)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"19.03276131045242%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e80 % (12/15)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"8.424336973478939%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e4\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"28.0811232449298%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eErythromycin (15mcg)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"7.956318252730109%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eE\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"17.316692667706707%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e40 % (6/15)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"19.18876755070203%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e33.33 % (5/15)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"19.03276131045242%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e26.67 % (4/15)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"8.424336973478939%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e5\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"28.0811232449298%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eGentamicin (10mcg)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"7.956318252730109%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eGEN\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"17.316692667706707%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e6.67 % (1/15)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"19.18876755070203%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e20 % (3/15)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"19.03276131045242%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e46.67 % (7/15)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"8.424336973478939%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e6\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"28.0811232449298%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eOfloxacin (5mcg)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"7.956318252730109%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eOF\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"17.316692667706707%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e6.67 % (1/15)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"19.18876755070203%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e46.67 % (7/15)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"19.03276131045242%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e46.67 % (7/15)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"8.424336973478939%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e7\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"28.0811232449298%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003ePenicillin-G (10units)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"7.956318252730109%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eP\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"17.316692667706707%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e33.33 % (5/15)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"19.18876755070203%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e40 % (6/15)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"19.03276131045242%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e26.67 % (4/15)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"8.424336973478939%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e8\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"28.0811232449298%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eVancomycin (30mcg)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"7.956318252730109%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eVA\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"17.316692667706707%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e26.67 % (4/15)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"19.18876755070203%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e53.33 % (8/15)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"19.03276131045242%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e20 % (3/15)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"8.424336973478939%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e9\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"28.0811232449298%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eAmpicillin (10mcg)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"7.956318252730109%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eAMP\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"17.316692667706707%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e6.67 % (1/15)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"19.18876755070203%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e13.33 % (2/15)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"19.03276131045242%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e80 % (12/15)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"8.424336973478939%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e10\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"28.0811232449298%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eChloramphenicol (30mcg)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"7.956318252730109%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eC\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"17.316692667706707%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e46.67 % (7/15)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"19.18876755070203%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e40 % (6/15)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"19.03276131045242%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e13.33 % (2/15)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"8.424336973478939%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e11\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"28.0811232449298%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eOxacillin (1mcg)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"7.956318252730109%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eOX\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"17.316692667706707%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e40 % (6/15)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"19.18876755070203%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e40 % (6/15)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"19.03276131045242%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e20 % (3/15)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"8.424336973478939%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e12\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"28.0811232449298%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eLinezolid (30mcg)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"7.956318252730109%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eLZ\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"17.316692667706707%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e53.33 % (8/15)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"19.18876755070203%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e33.33 % (5/15)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"19.03276131045242%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e13.33 % (2/15)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"8.424336973478939%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e13\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"28.0811232449298%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eAzithromycin (15mcg)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"7.956318252730109%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eAZM\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"17.316692667706707%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e13.33 % (2/15)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"19.18876755070203%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e53.33 % (8/15)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"19.03276131045242%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e33.33 % (5/15)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"8.424336973478939%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e14\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"28.0811232449298%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eAmikacin (30mcg)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"7.956318252730109%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eAK\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"17.316692667706707%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e13.33 % (2/15)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"19.18876755070203%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e66.67 % (10/15)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"19.03276131045242%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e20 % (3/15)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"8.424336973478939%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e15\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"28.0811232449298%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eClarithromycin (15mcg)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"7.956318252730109%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eCLR\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"17.316692667706707%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e20 % (3/15)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"19.18876755070203%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e66.67 % (10/15)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"19.03276131045242%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e13.33 % (2/15)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"8.424336973478939%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e16\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"28.0811232449298%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eTeicoplanin (10mcg)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"7.956318252730109%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eTEI\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"17.316692667706707%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e80 % (12/15)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"19.18876755070203%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e13.33 % (2/15)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"19.03276131045242%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e6.67 % (1/15)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"8.424336973478939%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e17\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"28.0811232449298%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eMethicillin (5mcg)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"7.956318252730109%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eMET\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"17.316692667706707%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e93.33 % (14/15)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"19.18876755070203%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e6.67 % (1/15)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"19.03276131045242%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0 % (0/15)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"8.424336973478939%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e18\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"28.0811232449298%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eAmoxycillin/Clavulanic acid (30mcg)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"7.956318252730109%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eAMC\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"17.316692667706707%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e20 % (3/15)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"19.18876755070203%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e60 % (9/15)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"19.03276131045242%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e20 % (3/15)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"8.424336973478939%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e19\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"28.0811232449298%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eNovobiocin (5mcg)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"7.956318252730109%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eNV\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"17.316692667706707%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e53.33 % (8/15)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"19.18876755070203%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e26.67 % (4/15)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"19.03276131045242%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e20 % (3/15)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"8.424336973478939%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e20\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"28.0811232449298%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eTetracycline (30mcg)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"7.956318252730109%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eTE\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"17.316692667706707%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e26.67 % (4/15)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"19.18876755070203%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e53.33 % (8/15)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"19.03276131045242%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e20 % (3/15)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"8.424336973478939%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e22\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"28.0811232449298%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eNorfloxacin (10mcg)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"7.956318252730109%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eNX\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"17.316692667706707%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0 % (0/15)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"19.18876755070203%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e33.33 % (5/15)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"19.03276131045242%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e66.67 % (10/15)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"8.424336973478939%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e23\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"28.0811232449298%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eCefuroxime (30mcg)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"7.956318252730109%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eCXM\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"17.316692667706707%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0 % (0/15)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"19.18876755070203%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e40 % (6/15)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"19.03276131045242%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e60 % (9/15)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"8.424336973478939%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e24\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"28.0811232449298%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eCiprofloxacin (5mcg)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"7.956318252730109%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eCIP\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"17.316692667706707%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0 % (0/15)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"19.18876755070203%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e46.67 % (7/15)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"19.03276131045242%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e53.33 % (8/15)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"8.424336973478939%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e25\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"28.0811232449298%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eCefoperazone (75mcg)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"7.956318252730109%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eCPZ\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"17.316692667706707%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0 % (0/15)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"19.18876755070203%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e26.67 % (4/15)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"19.03276131045242%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e73.33 % (11/15)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"8.424336973478939%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e26\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"28.0811232449298%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eCeftazidime (30mcg)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"7.956318252730109%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eCAZ\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"17.316692667706707%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0 % (0/15)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"19.18876755070203%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e33.33 % (5/15)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"19.03276131045242%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e66.67 % (10/15)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"8.424336973478939%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e27\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"28.0811232449298%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eRoxithromycin (30mcg)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"7.956318252730109%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eRO\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"17.316692667706707%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e33.33 % (5/15)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"19.18876755070203%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e53.33 % (8/15)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"19.03276131045242%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e13.33 % (2/15)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"8.424336973478939%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e28\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"28.0811232449298%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eLevofloxacin (5mcg)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"7.956318252730109%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eLE\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"17.316692667706707%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e6.67 % (1/15)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"19.18876755070203%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e66.67 % (10/15)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"19.03276131045242%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e26.67 % (4/15)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"8.424336973478939%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e29\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"28.0811232449298%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eNetilmicin Sulphate (30mcg)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"7.956318252730109%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eNET\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"17.316692667706707%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e13.33 % (2/15)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"19.18876755070203%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e40 % (6/15)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"19.03276131045242%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e46.67 % (7/15)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"8.424336973478939%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e30\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"28.0811232449298%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eCefaclor (30mcg)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"7.956318252730109%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eCF\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"17.316692667706707%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e6.67 % (1/15)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"19.18876755070203%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e33.33 % (5/15)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"19.03276131045242%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e60 % (9/15)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"8.424336973478939%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e31\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"28.0811232449298%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eCefotaxime (Cepholexime) (30mcg)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"7.956318252730109%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eCTX\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"17.316692667706707%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e6.67 % (1/15)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"19.18876755070203%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e13.33 % (2/15)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"19.03276131045242%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e80 % (12/15)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"8.424336973478939%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e32\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"28.0811232449298%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eAmpicillin/ Cloxacillin (10mcg)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"7.956318252730109%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eAX\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"17.316692667706707%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e26.67 % (4/15)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"19.18876755070203%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e40 % (6/15)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"19.03276131045242%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e33.33 % (5/15)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"8.424336973478939%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e33\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"28.0811232449298%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eSparfloxacin (5mcg)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"7.956318252730109%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eSPX\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"17.316692667706707%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0 % (0/15)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"19.18876755070203%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e6.67 % (1/15)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"19.03276131045242%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e93.33 % (14/15)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"8.424336973478939%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e34\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"28.0811232449298%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eAmpicillin/ Sulbactam (10mcg)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"7.956318252730109%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eA/S\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"17.316692667706707%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e6.67 % (1/15) \u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"19.18876755070203%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e13.33 % (2/15)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"19.03276131045242%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e80 % (12/15)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"8.424336973478939%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e35\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"28.0811232449298%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eImipenem (10mcg)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"7.956318252730109%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eIPM\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"17.316692667706707%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e20 % (3/15)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"19.18876755070203%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e40 % (6/15)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"19.03276131045242%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e40 % (6/15)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"8.424336973478939%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e36\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"28.0811232449298%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eTobramycin (10mcg)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"7.956318252730109%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eTOB\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"17.316692667706707%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e13.33 % (2/15)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"19.18876755070203%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e40 % (6/15)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"19.03276131045242%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e46.67% (7/15)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"8.424336973478939%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e37\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"28.0811232449298%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eMoxifloxacin (5mcg)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"7.956318252730109%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eMO\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"17.316692667706707%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e26.67 % (4/15)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"19.18876755070203%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e40 % (6/15)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"19.03276131045242%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e33.33 % (5/15)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"8.424336973478939%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e38\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"28.0811232449298%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eColistin (Methane Sulphonate) (10mcg)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"7.956318252730109%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eCL\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"17.316692667706707%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e53.33 % (8/15)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"19.18876755070203%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e26.67 % (4/15)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"19.03276131045242%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e20 % (3/15)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"8.424336973478939%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e39\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"28.0811232449298%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eNalidixic Acid (30mcg)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"7.956318252730109%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eNA\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"17.316692667706707%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e33.33 % (5/15)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"19.18876755070203%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e40 % (6/15)\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"19.03276131045242%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e26.67 % (4/15)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"8.424336973478939%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e40\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"28.0811232449298%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eAugmentin (30mcg)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"7.956318252730109%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eAMC\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"17.316692667706707%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e6.67 % (1/15)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"19.18876755070203%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e60 % (9/15)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"19.03276131045242%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e33.33 % (5/15)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"8.424336973478939%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e41\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"28.0811232449298%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eCefoxitin (Cephoxitin) (30mcg)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"7.956318252730109%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eCX\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"17.316692667706707%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e13.33 % (2/15)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"19.18876755070203%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e40 % (6/15)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"19.03276131045242%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e46.67 % (7/15)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"8.424336973478939%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e42\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"28.0811232449298%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eGatifloxacin (5mcg)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"7.956318252730109%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eGAT\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"17.316692667706707%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e6.67 % (1/15)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"19.18876755070203%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e33.33 % (5/15)\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"19.03276131045242%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e60 % (9/15)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"8.424336973478939%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e43\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"28.0811232449298%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eAztreonam (30mcg)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"7.956318252730109%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eAT\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"17.316692667706707%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e33.33 % (5/15)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"19.18876755070203%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e53.33 % (8/15)\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"19.03276131045242%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e13.33 % (2/15)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"8.424336973478939%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e44\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"28.0811232449298%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eCeftriaxone (30mcg)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"7.956318252730109%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eCTR\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"17.316692667706707%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e6.67 % (1/15)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"19.18876755070203%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e20 % (3/15)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"19.03276131045242%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e73.33 % (11/15)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"8.424336973478939%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e45\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"28.0811232449298%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eCefpodoxime (10mcg)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"7.956318252730109%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eCPD\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"17.316692667706707%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e80 % (12/15)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"19.18876755070203%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e6.67 % (1/15)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"19.03276131045242%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e13.33 % (2/15)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"8.424336973478939%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e46\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"28.0811232449298%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eNitrofurantoin (300mcg)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"7.956318252730109%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eNIT\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"17.316692667706707%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e53.33 % (8/15)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"19.18876755070203%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e13.33 % (2/15)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"19.03276131045242%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e33.33 % (5/15)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"8.424336973478939%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e47\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"28.0811232449298%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eCloxacillin (1mcg)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"7.956318252730109%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eCOX\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"17.316692667706707%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e6.67 % (1/15)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"19.18876755070203%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e26.67 % (4/15)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"19.03276131045242%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e66.67 % (10/15)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003c/tbody\u003e\n\u003c/table\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eResistant-\u003c/strong\u003e CPD, NIT, NV, MET, TEI, OX, LZ, E, CD, RO, CLR, VA;\u003cstrong\u003e\u0026nbsp;Moderately sensitive\u003c/strong\u003e - CX, NA, CL, AX, AZM, CEP, TE, AMP; \u003cstrong\u003eSensitive\u003c/strong\u003e - CTZ, OF, AK, AMC, CPZ, TOB, IPM, GEN; \u003cstrong\u003eMost sensitive\u003c/strong\u003e - CTR, C, CIP, AT, CAZ, P, COT, COX, A/S, SPX, CF, NET, CXM, NF\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"4. Discussion","content":"\u003cp\u003eThis study confirms the high prevalence of \u003cem\u003eSalmonella\u003c/em\u003e contamination in fresh vegetables of commercial and home-grown green leafy vegetables in Dehradun. The study was conducted over a period of one year from Feb-2023 to Jan-2024 10 different sites were used for periodic sample collection. The vegetable samples were processed using standardized protocols. Although transmission pathways have not been investigated, published reports have provided insights into potential contamination routes. A high incidence of \u003cem\u003eSalmonella\u003c/em\u003e infection in green leafy vegetables was reported in February, August 2023, and January 2024. In August, high humidity and temperature may be responsible for the high incidence, whereas contaminated water and manure are a major reason for the high bacterial load in vegetables in January and February. In Dehradun, bacterial contamination may originate from poor farm production and handling practices, cross-contamination during transportation, and poor hygiene and sanitation practices in markets. Green leafy vegetables exhibit antibiotic resistance [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR15\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e15\u003c/span\u003e], including \u003cem\u003eStaphylococcus aureus\u003c/em\u003e, teicoplanin, methicillin, and cefpodoxime, primarily due to the erm gene, teicoplanin, and ESBL-producing \u003cem\u003eEnterobacteriaceae\u003c/em\u003e, causing widespread concern [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR16\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e16\u003c/span\u003e].\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eGreen leafy vegetables seem to be particularly susceptible to \u003cem\u003eSalmonella\u003c/em\u003e [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR17\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e17\u003c/span\u003e]. The susceptibility of green leafy vegetables to contamination by bacterial pathogens has been previously reported in multiple foodborne outbreaks, specifically those involving \u003cem\u003eE. coli, Listeria, Coliform, Campylobacter\u003c/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003eSalmonella\u003c/em\u003e in the United States [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR18\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e18\u003c/span\u003e]. Green leafy vegetable matrices and stomata protect bacteria from washing water and disinfectants, thereby increasing the likelihood of pathogen survival and contamination. Previous studies have shown that \u003cem\u003eSalmonella\u003c/em\u003e is multidrug resistant. In this study, 21 \u003cem\u003eSalmonella\u003c/em\u003e isolates were resistant to at least one antibacterial agent, and most isolates exhibited multi-drug resistance, mainly to tetracycline, ciprofloxacin, streptomycin, and erythromycin. \u003cem\u003eSalmonella\u003c/em\u003e strains are resistant to streptomycin, tetracyclines, and quinolones, with tetracycline resistance genes showing the highest detection rates, suggesting that resistance may be related to antimicrobial resistance genes [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR19\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e19\u003c/span\u003e]. Antibiotic resistance rates have increased owing to overuse in agriculture and healthcare, environmental contamination (water irrigation and manure), and local agricultural practices. Green leafy vegetables show similar patterns in clinical settings. Regions with intensive farming activities and high antibiotic use have reported higher resistance rates [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR15\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e15\u003c/span\u003e]. Teicoplanin resistance remains low, but concerns have arisen owing to horizontal gene transfer. Cefpodoxime resistance also increased in some areas.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eIn India, vegetable production is dominated by small-scale producers, categorized as farmers holding less than 2 hectares of irrigated land [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR20\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e20\u003c/span\u003e]. However, small-scale producers have limited financial and technical support to market fresh produce with high-quality standards [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR21\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e21\u003c/span\u003e]. Due to the perishable nature of produce and limited cold storage facilities, small-scale farmers primarily sell fresh vegetables directly to consumers on the roadside or farmers' markets, where sanitary and hygiene conditions are poor [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR22\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e22\u003c/span\u003e]. A recent report revealed that Indian fruits and vegetables are among the Asia-Pacific countries with the highest microbiological hazards when exported to European countries [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR23\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e23\u003c/span\u003e]. Small Indian vegetable producers lack food safety practices, resulting in high production and consumption. Researchers have investigated vegetable safety because compromised food security poses a global threat to a country's development [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR24\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e24\u003c/span\u003e].\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eFoodborne pathogens such as \u003cem\u003eSalmonella, Escherichia coli\u003c/em\u003e O157, \u003cem\u003eStaphylococcus aureus\u003c/em\u003e, and norovirus encounter edible plant parts because of poor agricultural and hygiene practices in the production chain [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR25\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e25\u003c/span\u003e]. Vegetables in India face a high risk of cross-contamination including contaminated irrigation water, soil, manure, poor hygiene, and unhygienic handling by farm workers and consumers [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR26\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e26\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR27\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e27\u003c/span\u003e]. Unhygienic handling of fresh produce by shopkeepers and consumers and open field conditions for vegetable cultivation increases the risk of foodborne pathogen contamination [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR28\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e28\u003c/span\u003e]. Foodborne pathogens can persist in any of the field components and cross-contaminate fresh produce, depending on the production type and practices involved in different steps of production [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR29\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e29\u003c/span\u003e]. Fresh vegetables from fields are decontaminated, compromising their quality due to microbial hazards in the pre-harvest stages, transport, and shop handling, requiring improved hygiene indicators and sanitary levels [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR30\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e30\u003c/span\u003e]. The necessity for present consumers to eat nutritious, safe, and clean fruits and vegetables urges the surveillance of hygiene indicators and foodborne pathogens at each point from farm to fork to ensure food safety [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR31\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e31\u003c/span\u003e]. The fresh produce implicated as vectors of foodborne pathogens has been source tracked to the contamination in the primary production system for the pathogens Salmonella norovirus, and \u003cem\u003eE. coli\u003c/em\u003e O157:H7 [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR32\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e32\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR33\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e33\u003c/span\u003e]. With a well-researched surveillance system, foodborne outbreaks in developed countries have been well documented and traced to cross-contamination in the market and primary production environment [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR34\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e34\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR7\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e7\u003c/span\u003e]. However, in India, no attempts have been made to survey sanitary quality and foodborne pathogens in the fresh vegetable production chain of small-scale producers.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThis study revealed that 9.45% of fresh vegetable samples in Dehradun, India contains \u003cem\u003eSalmonella\u003c/em\u003e, a foodborne pathogen associated with common vegetables. The high risk of exposure to potential human pathogens in the field and market is exacerbated by eating raw vegetables alone or in combination with low-processing foods. Further research is needed to expand the scope and improve epidemiological surveillance.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"Declarations","content":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eEthics approval and consent to participate\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNot applicable\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eConsent for publication\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNot applicable\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFunding\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNone\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eData availability\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eData will be made available on request\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAuthorship contributions\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eR K: writing original draft, methodology, investigation, N K: editing, N K: review, and P G: writing and editing, visualization, conceptualization.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDeclaration of competing interest\u0026nbsp;\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAll authors declare no competing interests\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAcknowledgements\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe acknowledge the support received from the Graphic Era (Deemed to be University) for the present research work.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"References","content":"\u003col\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMohanapriya, R., Paranidharan, V., Karthikeyan, S., \u0026amp; Balachandar, D. 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A., \u0026amp; Hoque, S. (2023). Exploring the potential human pathogenic bacteria in selected ready-to-eat leafy greens sold in Dhaka City, Bangladesh: Estimation of bacterial load and incidence. \u003cem\u003eFood science \u0026amp; nutrition\u003c/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003e12\u003c/em\u003e(2), 1105\u0026ndash;1118. https://doi.org/10.1002/fsn3.3825\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ol\u003e"}],"fulltextSource":"","fullText":"","funders":[],"hasAdminPriorityOnWorkflow":false,"hasManuscriptDocX":true,"hasOptedInToPreprint":true,"hasPassedJournalQc":"","hasAnyPriority":false,"hideJournal":false,"highlight":"","institution":"","isAcceptedByJournal":true,"isAuthorSuppliedPdf":false,"isDeskRejected":"","isHiddenFromSearch":false,"isInQc":false,"isInWorkflow":false,"isPdf":false,"isPdfUpToDate":true,"isWithdrawnOrRetracted":false,"journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"researchsquare","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"externalIdentity":"","sideBox":"","snPcode":"","submissionUrl":"/submission","title":"Research Square","twitterHandle":"researchsquare","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":false,"editorialSystem":"","reportingPortfolio":"","inReviewEnabled":false,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true},"keywords":"Antimicrobial resistance, leafy green vegetables, colonization, and Salmonella","lastPublishedDoi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-4585592/v1","lastPublishedDoiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-4585592/v1","license":{"name":"CC BY 4.0","url":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"},"manuscriptAbstract":"\u003cp\u003eNon-typhoidal \u003cem\u003eSalmonella\u003c/em\u003e infections (NTS) are a significant public health issue in low-income countries because of inadequate hygiene and sanitation facilities. This issue is further complicated by inadequate periodic surveillance for the better management of \u003cem\u003eSalmonella\u003c/em\u003e-related infections. Furthermore, reports of antibiotic-resistant \u003cem\u003eSalmonella\u003c/em\u003e species pre- and post-harvest require periodic characterization of bacterial isolates to ascertain the appropriate medication for effective treatment. In the present study, 645 green leafy vegetable samples were examined for the presence of typhoidal and non-typhoidal \u003cem\u003eSalmonella\u003c/em\u003e species. Isolate culture on differential medium and biochemical characterization confirmed the presence of \u003cem\u003eSalmonella\u003c/em\u003e species in 61 out of 645 samples (9.45%) collected from ten sample sites in the Dehradun district of Uttarakhand state in India. The culture confirmed that 15 isolates were randomly selected, and each sample was subjected to 47 antibiotics for antimicrobial susceptibility testing. Of the bacterial isolates, 93.33% were resistant to methicillin, whereas 80% were resistant to cefpodoxime, teicoplanin, and clindamycin. In total, 55.33% of the isolates were resistant to Linezolid, Novobiocin, colistin, and nitrofurantoin. 46.66% were resistant to chloramphenicol. \u003cem\u003eSalmonella\u003c/em\u003e sp. with Antibiotic resistance of Salmonella spp. was found in the Dehradun area, and this study may help with disease management and adequate food safety measures.\u003c/p\u003e","manuscriptTitle":"Presence of antibiotic resistance non-typhoidal Salmonella spp. from green leafy vegetables in Dehradun","msid":"","msnumber":"","nonDraftVersions":[{"code":1,"date":"2024-07-02 09:25:53","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-4585592/v1","editorialEvents":[{"type":"communityComments","content":0}],"status":"published","journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"researchsquare","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"externalIdentity":"","sideBox":"","snPcode":"","submissionUrl":"/submission","title":"Research Square","twitterHandle":"researchsquare","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":false,"editorialSystem":"","reportingPortfolio":"","inReviewEnabled":false,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true}}],"origin":"","ownerIdentity":"f919f02d-0067-4668-8bfc-b4687cc41282","owner":[],"postedDate":"July 2nd, 2024","published":true,"recentEditorialEvents":[],"rejectedJournal":[],"revision":"","amendment":"","status":"published-in-journal","subjectAreas":[],"tags":[],"updatedAt":"2025-03-03T20:05:27+00:00","versionOfRecord":{"articleIdentity":"rs-4585592","link":"https://doi.org/10.22207/JPAM.19.1.36","journal":{"identity":"journal-of-pure-and-applied-microbiology","isVorOnly":true,"title":"Journal of Pure and Applied Microbiology"},"publishedOn":"2025-02-27 00:00:00","publishedOnDateReadable":"February 27th, 2025"},"versionCreatedAt":"2024-07-02 09:25:53","video":"","vorDoi":"10.22207/JPAM.19.1.36","vorDoiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.22207/JPAM.19.1.36","workflowStages":[]},"version":"v1","identity":"rs-4585592","journalConfig":"researchsquare"},"__N_SSP":true},"page":"/article/[identity]/[[...version]]","query":{"redirect":"/article/rs-4585592","identity":"rs-4585592","version":["v1"]},"buildId":"8U1c8b4HqxoKbykW_rLl7","isFallback":false,"isExperimentalCompile":false,"dynamicIds":[84888],"gssp":true,"scriptLoader":[]}