Romaine lettuce contaminated with Cyclospora has been implicated in infection of consumers in Minnesota.  Affected product was grown in Coachella, CA.  Cyclospora is a protozoan parasite similar in its life cycle to avian coccidiosis.  It is significant that the organism can only be acquired from consumption of foods contaminated with human feces since the pathogen is species specific.  The presence of Cyclospora on vegetables denotes a deficiency in procedures to prevent contamination of irrigation water by field workers. 

Other pathogens associated with leafy greens including Salmonella, E. coli and Listeria. All may result from contamination of irrigation water by ruminant feces, a problem which arises due to proximity of CAFOs and fields used to cultivate lettuce, spinach and other leafy greens.