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

2006 ◽  
Vol 69 (5) ◽  
pp. 1154-1158 ◽  
Author(s):  
MARGARET L. KHAITSA ◽  
MARC L. BAUER ◽  
GREGORY P. LARDY ◽  
DAWN K. DOETKOTT ◽  
REDEMPTA B. KEGODE ◽  
...  

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.

1997 ◽  
Vol 60 (5) ◽  
pp. 462-465 ◽  
Author(s):  
DALE D. HANCOCK ◽  
DANIEL H. RICE ◽  
LEE ANN THOMAS ◽  
DAVID A. DARGATZ ◽  
THOMAS E. BESSER

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.


2001 ◽  
Vol 84 (3) ◽  
pp. 737-751 ◽  
Author(s):  
Charles B Bird ◽  
Rebecca J Hoerner ◽  
Lawrence Restaino ◽  
G Anderson ◽  
W Birbari ◽  
...  

Abstract Four different food types along with environmental swabs were analyzed by the Reveal for E. coli O157:H7 test (Reveal) and the Bacteriological Analytical Manual (BAM) culture method for the presence of Escherichia coli O157:H7. Twenty-seven laboratories representing academia and private industry in the United States and Canada participated. Sample types were inoculated with E. coli O157:H7 at 2 different levels. Of the 1095 samples and controls analyzed and confirmed, 459 were positive and 557 were negative by both methods. No statistical differences (p <0.05) were observed between the Reveal and BAM methods.


2000 ◽  
Vol 63 (6) ◽  
pp. 819-821 ◽  
Author(s):  
DAVID W. K. ACHESON

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.


2011 ◽  
Vol 74 (6) ◽  
pp. 912-918 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. L. SWYERS ◽  
B. A. CARLSON ◽  
K. K. NIGHTINGALE ◽  
K. E. BELK ◽  
S. L. ARCHIBEQUE

Beef steers (n = 252) were used to evaluate the effects of dietary supplement on fecal shedding of Escherichia coli O157:H7. Seven pens of 9 steers (63 steers per treatment) were fed diets supplemented with or without yeast culture (YC) or monensin (MON) and their combination (YC × MON). YC and MON were offered at 2.8 g/kg and 33 mg/kg of dry matter intake, respectively. Environmental sponge samples (from each pen floor, feed bunk, and water trough) were collected on day 0. Rectal fecal grab samples were collected on days 0, 28, 56, 84, 110, and 125. Samples were collected and pooled by pen and analyzed for presumptive E. coli O157:H7 colonies, which were confirmed by a multiplex PCR assay and characterized by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) typing. On day 0, E. coli O157:H7 was detected in 7.0% of feed bunk samples and 14.3% of pen floor samples but in none of the water trough samples. The 71.4% prevalence of E. coli O157:H7 in fecal samples on day 0 decreased significantly (P < 0.05) over time. E. coli O157:H7 fecal shedding was not associated with dietary treatment (P > 0.05); however, in cattle fed YC and YC × MON fecal shedding was 0% by day 28. Eight XbaI PFGE subtypes were identified, and a predominant subtype and three closely related subtypes (differing by three or fewer bands) accounted for 78.7% of environmental and fecal isolates characterized. Results from this study indicate that feeding YC to cattle may numerically decrease but not eliminate fecal shedding of E. coli O157:H7 at the onset of treatment and that certain E. coli O157 subtypes found in the feedlot environment may persist in feedlot cattle.


2008 ◽  
Vol 71 (3) ◽  
pp. 539-544 ◽  
Author(s):  
EBOT S. TABE ◽  
JAMES OLOYA ◽  
DAWN K. DOETKOTT ◽  
MARC L. BAUER ◽  
PENELOPE S. GIBBS ◽  
...  

The effect of direct-fed microbials (DFM) on fecal shedding of Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Salmonella in naturally infected feedlot cattle was evaluated in a clinical trial involving 138 feedlot steers. Following standard laboratory methods, fecal samples collected from steers were evaluated for change in the detectable levels of E. coli O157:H7 and Salmonella shed in feces after DFM treatment. Sampling of steers was carried out every 3 weeks for 84 days. A significant reduction (32%) in fecal shedding of E. coli O157:H7 (P < 0.001), but not Salmonella (P = 0.24), was observed among the treatment steers compared with the control group during finishing. The probability of recovery of E. coli O157:H7 from the feces of treated and control steers was 34.0 and 66.0%, respectively. Steers placed on DFM supplement were almost three times less likely to shed E. coli O157:H7 (odds ratio, 0.36; 95% confidence interval, 0.25 to 0.53; P < 0.001) in their feces as opposed to their control counterparts. The probability of recovery of Salmonella from the feces of the control (14.0%) and the treated (11.3%) steers was similar. However, the DFM significantly reduced probability of new infections with Salmonella among DFM-treated cattle compared with controls (nontreated ones). It appears that DFM as applied in our study are capable of significantly reducing fecal shedding of E. coli O157:H7 in naturally infected cattle but not Salmonella. The factors responsible for the observed difference in the effects of DFM on E. coli O157:H7 and Salmonella warrants further investigation.


2002 ◽  
Vol 82 (4) ◽  
pp. 475-490 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. J. Bach ◽  
T. A. McAllister ◽  
D. M. Veira ◽  
V. P. J. Gannon ◽  
R. A. Holley

Escherichia coli 157:H7 has evolved as an important foodborne pathogen since its initial description in 1982. Outbreaks of illness associated with E. coli O157:H7 have been reported throughout the northern hemisphere, most frequently in Canada, the United States, Japan, and the United Kingdom. In Canada, infections due to E. coli O157: H7 appear to be more common in the western provinces than in the east, in rural vs. urban environments, and during summer as opposed to winter months. Undercooked ground beef has been implicated as the primary vehicle in E. coli O157:H7 infection, but contaminated fruits, vegetables and water have also been linked to E. coli O157:H7 outbreaks. Epidemiological investigations demonstrate that dairy and beef cattle are primary reservoirs of this organism, carrying it asymptomatically and shedding it intermittently and seasonally in their feces. Surveys in Canada and the United States indicate widespread distribution of E. coli O157:H7 in cattle operations. The prevalence of E. coli O157:H7 in cattle has been increasing in recent reports, likely due to the development of more sensitive methods for the detection of the organism. Escherichia coli O157:H7 has been isolated from feed, water for livestock, manure, soil and flies, all of which represent potential sources of contamination for cattle and their environment. To date, effective methods for controlling E. coli O157:H7 in cattle have not been identified, although dietary manipulation, vaccination and bacteriophage therapy have been reported to have potential as intervention strategies. Effective control of E. coli O157:H7 requires reducing the frequency and intensity of fecal shedding of this pathogen by cattle, in addition to targeting environmental sources of the organism. Key words: Escherichia coli O157:H7, cattle, sources, diet, transmission


Author(s):  
Woube Y ◽  
Abdella E ◽  
Faraj R ◽  
Perry R ◽  
Reddy G ◽  
...  

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.


2009 ◽  
Vol 72 (6) ◽  
pp. 1272-1278 ◽  
Author(s):  
JOSEPH M. BOSILEVAC ◽  
TERRANCE M. ARTHUR ◽  
JAMES L. BONO ◽  
DAYNA M. BRICHTA-HARHAY ◽  
NORASAK KALCHAYANAND ◽  
...  

A significant portion (15 to 20%) of beef in the United States is produced in small beef processing plants that harvest fewer than 1,000 cattle per day. However, there are little data on the prevalence and levels of Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Salmonella in these processing plants. To address this lack of data, hides (n = 1,995) and carcasses (n = 1,995) of cattle at seven small processing plants located across the United States were analyzed for E. coli O157:H7 and Salmonella. Across all plants, hide prevalence of E. coli O157:H7 and Salmonella was 71 and 91%, respectively. Twelve percent of hides had E. coli O157:H7 at enumerable levels (≥40 CFU/100 cm2), while 36% of hides had Salmonella at enumerable levels. Across all plants, the prevalence of E. coli O157:H7 on preevisceration carcasses was 33%, with 2% at an enumerable level (≥0.8 CFU/100 cm2). Across all plants, Salmonella prevalence on preevisceration carcasses was 58%, with 8% at an enumerable level. Significant plant-to-plant variations in levels and prevalence of pathogens on carcasses were detected. Reduced levels of pathogens on carcasses were noted among small processors that had incorporated a hide-directed intervention. The results obtained are comparable to those observed previously for larger processors, showing that smaller beef processors face and address the same challenges as do larger beef processors.


2004 ◽  
Vol 67 (2) ◽  
pp. 295-302 ◽  
Author(s):  
MILDRED RIVERA-BETANCOURT ◽  
STEVEN D. SHACKELFORD ◽  
TERRANCE M. ARTHUR ◽  
KURT E. WESTMORELAND ◽  
GINA BELLINGER ◽  
...  

For two large beef processing plants, one located in the southern United States (plant A) and one located in the northern United States (plant B), prevalence of Escherichia coli O157:H7, Listeria spp., Listeria monocytogenes, and Salmonella was determined for hide, carcass, and facility environmental samples over the course of 5 months. The prevalence of E. coli O157: H7 (68.1 versus 55.9%) and Salmonella (91.8 versus 50.3%) was higher (P &lt; 0.05), and the prevalence of Listeria spp. (37.7 versus 75.5%) and L. monocytogenes (0.8 versus 18.7%) was lower (P &lt; 0.05) for the hides of cattle slaughtered at plant A versus plant B. Similarly, the prevalence of Salmonella (52.0 versus 25.3%) was higher (P &lt; 0.05) and the prevalence of Listeria spp. (12.0 versus 40.0%) and L. monocytogenes (1.3 versus 14.7%) was lower (P &lt; 0.05) for the fence panels of the holding pens of plant A versus plant B. The prevalence of E. coli O157:H7 (3.1 versus 10.9%), Listeria spp. (4.5 versus 14.6%), and L. monocytogenes (0.0 versus 1.1%) was lower (P &lt; 0.05) for preevisceration carcasses sampled at plant A versus plant B. Salmonella (both plants), Listeria spp. (plant B), and L. monocytogenes (plant B) were detected on fabrication floor conveyor belts (product contact surfaces) late during the production day. For plant B, 21 of 148 (14.2%) late-operational fabrication floor conveyor belt samples were L. monocytogenes positive. For plant B, E. coli O157:H7 and L. monocytogenes were detected in preoperational fabrication floor conveyor belt samples. Overall results suggest that there are regional differences in the prevalence of pathogens on the hides of cattle presented for harvest at commercial beef processing plants. While hide data may reflect the regional prevalence, the carcass data is indicative of differences in harvest practices and procedures in these plants.


2005 ◽  
Vol 68 (7) ◽  
pp. 1367-1374 ◽  
Author(s):  
MIOMIR NIKSIC ◽  
STEVEN E. NIEBUHR ◽  
JAMES S. DICKSON ◽  
AUBREY F. MENDONCA ◽  
JEFFREY J. KOZICZKOWSKI ◽  
...  

Sauerkraut was produced from shredded cabbage, as is typical in the United States, and from whole head cabbages, which is a traditional process in parts of Eastern Europe. The sauerkraut was inoculated with five strain mixtures of Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Listeria monocytogenes, and the populations of these bacteria, as well as lactic acid bacteria, pH, and titratable acidity, were monitored over the course of fermentation. Fermentation variables were temperature (18 and 22°C) and salt concentration (1.8, 2.25, and 3%). For most of the analyses, the type of cabbage processing was a significant factor, although within cabbage type, neither salt nor fermentation temperature had significant effects. The final pH of the whole-head sauerkraut was lower than the shredded sauerkraut, but the titratable acidity was significantly higher in the shredded sauerkraut. E. coli O157:H7 and L. monocytogenes persisted in the brines for most of the fermentation, although at the end of the fermentations (15 days for shredded, 28 days for whole head), neither pathogen had detectable populations. E. coli populations decreased more rapidly in the shredded sauerkraut even though the pH was higher because of the higher total acidity in the shredded sauerkraut. Acid-tolerant strains of E. coli and L. monocytogenes were isolated from both shredded and whole-head sauerkraut at different salt concentrations and temperatures after 15 days of fermentation and could be detected at 35 days in the whole-head sauerkraut.


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