Pathogenesis of Salmonella Newport to BALB/c mice when internalized into cherry tomatoes

Salmonella Newport is a serovar frequently associated with outbreaks caused by consumption of raw tomatoes. This study tested the internalization of S. Newport-45 into cherry tomatoes and its resulting pathogenicity in vivo. Pathogenicity of S. Newport-45 was tested in BALB/c mice inoculated orally with either LB grown or cherry tomatoes homogenates internally contaminated with S. Newport-45. CFU of S. Newport-45 was recovered from the gastrointestinal tract, liver and spleen of the inoculated animals. Similar loads (p > 0.05) were recovered from the GI tract of BALB/c mice inoculated with S. Newport-45 grown in LB or with cherry tomato homogenates internally contaminated. Spread of S. Newport-45 to the liver of mice increased (p < 0.05) when they were inoculated with homogenates of cherry tomatoes internally contaminated with S. Newport-45 stored for 3 days compared with bacteria grown in LB. Salmonella Newport-45 hilA and rpoS genes were transcribed when the bacteria were inside the cherry tomato. The results obtained in this study show S. Newport-45 pathogenicity when it is internalized in a raw consumption fruit such as cherry tomato.