A diagnostic strategy to determine the Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli O157 status of pens of feedlot cattle

Although cattle are reservoirs, no validated method exists to monitor Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli O157 (STEC O157) on farms. In 29 Midwestern United States feedlot pens we compared culturing faeces from the individual cattle to: (1) culturing rope devices that cattle rub or chew; and (2) culturing a composite of faecal pats. Eighty-six per cent (68–96%) of pens were classified correctly using rope devices to detect pens with at least 16% of the cattle shedding STEC O157 [sensitivity=82% (57–96%); specificity=92% (62–100%)]. Ninety per cent of pens (73–98%) were classified correctly using composite faeces to detect pens with at least 37% of the cattle shedding STEC O157 [sensitivity=86% (42–100%); specificity=91% (71–99%)]. Ranking pens into three risk levels based on parallel interpretation of the pen-test results correlated (Spearman's r=0·76, P<0·0001) with the pen's prevalence. This strategy could identify pens of cattle posing a higher risk to food safety.

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Fecal Shedding of Escherichia coli O157:H7 in North Dakota Feedlot Cattle in the Fall and Spring

Journal of Food Protection ◽

10.4315/0362-028x-69.5.1154 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 69 (5) ◽

pp. 1154-1158 ◽

Cited By ~ 13

Author(s):

MARGARET L. KHAITSA ◽

MARC L. BAUER ◽

GREGORY P. LARDY ◽

DAWN K. DOETKOTT ◽

REDEMPTA B. KEGODE ◽

...

Keyword(s):

United States ◽

Escherichia Coli ◽

North Dakota ◽

The United States ◽

Extreme Weather ◽

Early Spring ◽

Feedlot Cattle ◽

Escherichia Coli O157 ◽

Fecal Shedding ◽

E Coli

Cattle are an important reservoir of Escherichia coli O157:H7, which can lead to contamination of food and water, and subsequent human disease. E. coli O157:H7 shedding in cattle has been reported as seasonal, with more animals shedding during summer and early fall than during winter. North Dakota has relatively cold weather, especially in winter and early spring, compared with many other regions of the United States. The objective was to assess fecal shedding of E. coli O157: H7 in North Dakota feedlot cattle over the fall, winter, and early spring. One hundred forty-four steers were assigned randomly to 24 pens on arrival at the feedlot. Samples of rectal feces were obtained from each steer four times (October and November 2003, and March and April 2004) during finishing. On arrival (October 2003), 2 (1.4%) of 144 cattle were shedding E. coli O157:H7. The shedding increased significantly to 10 (6.9%) of 144 after 28 days (November 2003), to 76 (53%) of 143 at the third sampling (March 2004), and dropped significantly to 30 (21%) of 143 at the fourth (last) sampling (March 2004) before slaughter. Unfortunately, we were unable to sample the cattle during winter because of the extreme weather conditions. Sampling time significantly (P < 0.0001) influenced variability in E. coli O157:H7 shedding, whereas herd (P = 0.08) did not. The prevalence of E. coli O157:H7 shedding in North Dakota steers in fall and early spring was comparable to what has been reported in other parts of the United States with relatively warmer weather. Further research into E. coli O157:H7 shedding patterns during extreme weather such as North Dakota winters is warranted in order to fully assess the seasonal effect on the risk level of this organism.

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How Does Escherichia coli O157:H7 Testing in Meat Compare with What We Are Seeing Clinically?

Journal of Food Protection ◽

10.4315/0362-028x-63.6.819 ◽

2000 ◽

Vol 63 (6) ◽

pp. 819-821 ◽

Cited By ~ 26

Author(s):

DAVID W. K. ACHESON

Keyword(s):

United States ◽

Escherichia Coli ◽

Shiga Toxin ◽

Food Supply ◽

The United States ◽

Escherichia Coli O157 ◽

Current Policy ◽

E Coli ◽

Different Types ◽

Uremic Syndrome

Escherichia coli O157:H7 is but one of a group of Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) that cause both intestinal disease such as bloody and nonbloody diarrhea and serious complications like hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). While E. coli O157: H7 is the most renowned STEC, over 200 different types of STEC have been documented in meat and animals, at least 60 of which have been linked with human disease. A number of studies have suggested that non-O157 STEC are associated with clinical disease, and non-O157 STEC are present in the food supply. Non-O157 STEC, such as O111 have caused large outbreaks and HUS in the United States and other countries. The current policy in the United States is to examine ground beef for O157:H7 only, but restricting the focus to O157 will miss other important human STEC pathogens.

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Epidemiology of Escherichia coli O157 in Feedlot Cattle

Journal of Food Protection ◽

10.4315/0362-028x-60.5.462 ◽

1997 ◽

Vol 60 (5) ◽

pp. 462-465 ◽

Cited By ~ 102

Author(s):

DALE D. HANCOCK ◽

DANIEL H. RICE ◽

LEE ANN THOMAS ◽

DAVID A. DARGATZ ◽

THOMAS E. BESSER

Keyword(s):

United States ◽

Escherichia Coli ◽

The United States ◽

Feedlot Cattle ◽

Escherichia Coli O157 ◽

Fecal Samples ◽

E Coli ◽

Geographical Regions ◽

Flagellar Antigen ◽

Low Prevalence

Fecal samples from cattle in 100 feedlots in 13 states were bacteriologically cultured for Escherichia coli O157 that did not ferment sorbitol, lacked beta-glucuronidase, and possessed genes coding for Shiga-like toxin. In each feedlot 30 fresh fecal-pat samples were collected from each of four pens: with the cattle shortest on feed, with cattle longest on feed, and with cattle in two randomly selected pens. E. coli O157 was isolated from 210 (1.8%) of 11,881 fecal samples. One or more samples were positive for E. coli O157 in 63 of the 100 feedlots tested. E. coli O157 was found at roughly equal prevalence in all the geographical regions sampled. The prevalence of E. coli O157 in the pens with cattle shortest on feed was approximately threefold higher than for randomly selected and longest on feed pens. Of the E. coli O157 isolates found in this study, 89.52% expressed the H7 flagellar antigen. E. coli O157 was found to be widely distributed among feedlot cattle, but at a low prevalence, in the United States.

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Seasonal Prevalence of Escherichia coli O157:H7 in Beef Cattle Feces†

Journal of Food Protection ◽

10.4315/0362-028x-69.12.3018 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 69 (12) ◽

pp. 3018-3020 ◽

Cited By ~ 33

Author(s):

M. J. ALAM ◽

L. ZUREK

Keyword(s):

Escherichia Coli ◽

Beef Cattle ◽

Shiga Toxin ◽

Bacterial Colonization ◽

Feedlot Cattle ◽

Escherichia Coli O157 ◽

Human Pathogen ◽

E Coli ◽

Cattle Feces ◽

Shiga Toxin 2

Cattle are an asymptomatic reservoir of Escherichia coli O157:H7, but the bacterial colonization and shedding patterns are poorly understood. The prevalence and shedding of this human pathogen have been reported to be seasonal with rates typically increasing during warm months. The objectives of this study were (i) to assess the prevalence of E. coli O157:H7 in feces of feedlot cattle in Kansas during summer, fall, and winter months, and (ii) to characterize E. coli O157:H7 by screening for virulence factors. Of 891 fecal samples collected, 82 (9.2%) were positive for E. coli O157:H7. No significant differences in prevalence were detected among summer, fall, and winter months. The highest monthly prevalence (18.1%) was detected in February. All tested isolates were positive for stx2 (Shiga toxin 2) and eaeA (intimin) genes; 14 isolates (12.8%) also carried stx1. Our results indicate the prevalence of E. coli O157:H7 in beef cattle feces is not necessarily season dependent.

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Detection of Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Shiga toxin 2a gene in pork, pig feces, and clean water at Jagalan slaughterhouse in Surakarta, Central Java Province, Indonesia

Veterinary World ◽

10.14202/vetworld.2019.1584-1590 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 12 (10) ◽

pp. 1584-1590

Author(s):

Maria Kristiani Epi Goma ◽

Alvita Indraswari ◽

Aris Haryanto ◽

Dyah Ayu Widiasih

Keyword(s):

Escherichia Coli ◽

Food Safety ◽

Shiga Toxin ◽

Water Samples ◽

Animal Origin ◽

Clean Water ◽

Escherichia Coli O157 ◽

Fecal Samples ◽

E Coli ◽

Pork Samples

Background and Aim: The feasibility assessment of food products on the market becomes one of the milestones of food safety. The quality of food safety of animal origin especially pork need to get attention and more real action from the parties related and concerned. Since pork is also a source of transmission for the contagion of foodborne disease so that the study of the existence of several agents in the pork and its products become the benchmark of safety level. This study aimed to isolate, identify, and detect the Shiga toxin 2a (stx2a) gene from Escherichia coli O157:H7 in pork, pig feces, and clean water in the Jagalan slaughterhouse. Materials and Methods: A total of 70 samples consisting of 32 pork samples, 32 pig fecal samples, and 6 clean water samples were used to isolate and identify E. coli O157:H7 and the stx2a gene. Isolation and identification of E. coli O157:H7 were performed using culture on eosin methylene blue agar and Sorbitol-MacConkey agar media and confirmed molecularly with polymerase chain reaction to amplify the target genes rfbE (317 bp) and fliC (381 bp). The isolates, which were identified as E. coli O157:H7, were investigated for the stx2a gene (553 bp). Results: The results of this study show that of the total collected samples, E. coli O157:H7 was 28.6% in Jagalan slaughterhouse and consisted of 25% of pork samples, 31.25% of pig fecal samples, and 33.3% of clean water samples. The isolates that were identified to be E. coli O157:H7 mostly contained the stx2a gene, which was equal to 75%, and consisted of seven isolates from pork samples, seven isolates from fecal samples, and one isolate from clean water samples. Conclusion: E. coli O157:H7 was found in 28.6% of pork, pig feces, and clean water in Jagalan slaughterhouse and 75% of identified E. coli O157:H7 contained the stx2a gene.

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Prevalence and Concentration of Escherichia coli O157:H7 in Cattle, Products, and the Environment in the United States of America: A Meta-Analysis Study

Journal of Epidemiology and Public Health Reviews ◽

10.16966/2471-8211.216 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 6 (3) ◽

Author(s):

Woube Y ◽

Abdella E ◽

Faraj R ◽

Perry R ◽

Reddy G ◽

...

Keyword(s):

United States ◽

Escherichia Coli ◽

Dairy Cattle ◽

United States Of America ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

The United States ◽

Feedlot Cattle ◽

Escherichia Coli O157 ◽

Pooled Prevalence ◽

Significant Difference

Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli O157:H7 are bacterial pathogens that cause foodborne infections in humans. The objectives of this study were to find the pooled prevalence and concentration of Escherichia coli O157:H7 in cattle, hides, carcass, and the environment in the United States of America using meta-analysis. The PRISMA and MOOSE research protocols were employed in the methodology. Weighted effect size was calculated using MetaXL software. A total of 1737 publications were screened, out of which 53 were selected for the final analysis. The pooled prevalence in feedlot cattle was 10.96% (95% CI: 4.2-18.8%). In dairy cattle a pooled prevalence of 1.5% (95% CI: 0.11-3.5%) was observed. The prevalence between feedlot and dairy cattle was significantly different (p<0.05). The herd prevalence in combined feedlot and dairy cattle was 31.7% (95% CI: 10.2-55.5%). Hide and carcass samples’ pooled prevalences were 54.7% (95% CI: 41.7-67.5%) and 21.3% (95% CI: 9.7-34.2%), respectively. Prevalence of environmental samples was 8.1% for produce (95% CI: 0-29.6%), 4.6% for watershed and sediment samples (95% CI: 0-12.2%), and 2.4% for water taken from troughs (95% CI: 0.39-5.1%). Significant difference was observed in individual, herd, and environment prevalence between regions (χ2 =903.14, p=0.0000; χ2 =11.06, p=0.0039; χ2 =13.59, p=0.0004, respectively). E. coli O157:H7 concentrations were highest in feces (900- 300,000 cfu/g), followed by hides (5-9,800 cfu/100 square cm), and carcass (1-189 cfu/100 square cm). At least one supershedder exists in a herd. The findings in this study showed that Escherichia coli O157:H7 serotype is widespread in feedlots, herds, hides, and carcass in the United States of America necessitating appropriate measures to prevent human illnesses. Improving management programs in cattle herds, reduction of environmental contamination, and hygienic slaughter practices are targets of intervention.

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Whole-Genome Draft Assemblies of Difficult-to-Classify Escherichia coli O157 and Non-O157 Isolates from Feces of Canadian Feedlot Cattle

Microbiology Resource Announcements ◽

10.1128/mra.00168-20 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 9 (15) ◽

Author(s):

Vinicius Silva Castro ◽

Eduardo Eustáquio de Souza Figueiredo ◽

Tim McAllister ◽

Robin King ◽

Tim Reuter ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Escherichia Coli ◽

Shiga Toxin ◽

Feedlot Cattle ◽

Whole Genome ◽

Escherichia Coli O157 ◽

Content Type ◽

Genome Draft

Forty-eight Escherichia coli strains were chosen due to variable detection of stx or serogroup by PCR. Although all strains were initially determined to be Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC), their genomes revealed 11 isolates carrying stx 1a, stx 1b, stx 2a, and/or stx 2b. Assembled genome sizes varied between 4,667,418 and 5,556,121 bp, with N 50 values between 79,648 and 294,166 bp and G+C contents between 50.

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Dual-Serotype Biofilm Formation by Shiga Toxin-Producing Escherichia coli O157:H7 and O26:H11 Strains

Applied and Environmental Microbiology ◽

10.1128/aem.01137-12 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 78 (17) ◽

pp. 6341-6344 ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

Rong Wang ◽

Norasak Kalchayanand ◽

James L. Bono ◽

John W. Schmidt ◽

Joseph M. Bosilevac

Keyword(s):

Escherichia Coli ◽

Food Safety ◽

Potential Risk ◽

Shiga Toxin ◽

Biofilm Formation ◽

Escherichia Coli O157 ◽

Content Type ◽

E Coli

ABSTRACTEscherichia coliO26:H11 strains were able to outgrow O157:H7 companion strains in planktonic and biofilm phases and also to effectively compete with precolonized O157:H7 cells to establish themselves in mixed biofilms.E. coliO157:H7 strains were unable to displace preformed O26:H11 biofilms. Therefore,E. coliO26:H11 remains a potential risk in food safety.

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