Escherichia coli O157 in Irish feedlot cattle: a longitudinal study involving preharvest and harvest phases of the food chain

The aim of this study was to investigate fecal shedding and transmission of E. coli O157 in cohorts of cattle within a feedlot, to assess subsequent contamination of carcasses with this pathogen and to identify risk factors associated with fecal shedding of E. coli O157. A cohort of 133 heifers hous...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of food safety 2003-10, Vol.23 (3), p.167-178
Main Authors: Minihan, D, Whyte, P, O'Mahony, M, Clegg, T, Collins, J.D
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
bacterial contamination
beef carcasses
Biological and medical sciences
disease prevalence
Escherichia coli
Escherichia coli O157:H7
feces
Feed and pet food industries
feedlots
food chain
food contamination
Food industries
Food microbiology
food pathogens
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
heifers
longitudinal studies
meat production
postharvest systems
risk factors
shedding
slaughterhouses
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Summary:The aim of this study was to investigate fecal shedding and transmission of E. coli O157 in cohorts of cattle within a feedlot, to assess subsequent contamination of carcasses with this pathogen and to identify risk factors associated with fecal shedding of E. coli O157. A cohort of 133 heifers housed in four adjacent pens was examined over a five month period, from entering the feedlot to slaughter. Individual rectal fecal samples and pen environmental samples were taken at monthly intervals. The entire outer and inner surfaces of a carcass side of each animal were swabbed immediately following slaughter. E. coli O157 was isolated from 136 (23%) of the 600 rectal fecal samples; 96% of which contained virulent markers. One hundred and sixty environmental samples were examined and E. coli O157 was isolated from 46 (29%), all of which contained virulent markers. E. coli O157 was not isolated from any of the dressed carcasses. The prevalence of E. coli O157 fecal shedding may be related to the pen and E. coli O157 contamination of the pen floor feces, water trough and feed. E. coli O157 should be considered as a pathogen shed in the feces of a substantial proportion of feedlot cattle. However, with good hygienic practice at harvest, a very low level of this pathogen can be achieved on dressed carcasses.
ISSN:0149-6085
1745-4565
DOI:10.1111/j.1745-4565.2003.tb00360.x