Fecal Shedding Underestimates E. coli 0157:H7 Volume in Cattle
New research published this week shows that testing for E. coli O157:H7 in cow feces underestimates the prevalance of the pathogen in the animals’ gastrointestinal tract.
The research, published August 1 by the journal Applied and Environmental Microbiology, was conducted by the USDA’s Agricultural Research Service.
E. coli 0157:H7 is a dangerous foodborne pathogen in humans that grows benignly in cattle.
It is common to test cattle feces to determine if any individual animal is shedding the bacteria, but scientists are seeking more information about where in the cattle gastrintestinal tract the E. coli can be found. The information is needed for the purpose of fighting the bug.
The research team found E. coli O157:H7 in samples from the mouth, pharynx, tonsils, lymph nodes, esophagus, all four sections of the stomach, and the small and large intestines, though the specific locations of positive cultures varied between animals.
“Although 31 percent of the animals were culture positive for E. coli O157:H7 somewhere along the intestinal tract, only 26 percent of those were fecal-culture positive. These data suggest that fecal shedding underestimated E. coli O157:H7 prevalence in the beef cattle gut and identified potential intervention sites,” the researchers concluded.
In short, fecal shedding underestimated E. coli O157:H7.
Tags: e coli O157, ground beef e coli
