Rhizosphere effect on survival of Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium in manure-amended soil during cabbage (Brassica oleracea) cultivation under tropical field conditions in Sub-Saharan Africa

► Rhizosphere effect depends on inoculum density. ► No rhizosphere effect at 4 log CFU/g. ► Rhizosphere enhances persistence in manure-amended soil at 7 log CFU/g. ► Enhanced persistence is associated with long-term contamination of the leaves.