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ARS Home » Plains Area » College Station, Texas » Southern Plains Agricultural Research Center » Food and Feed Safety Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #156054

Title: VARIATION IN THE FAECAL SHEDDING OF SALMONELLA AND E. COLI O157:H7 IN LACTATING DAIRY CATTLE AND EXAMINATION OF SALMONELLA GENOTYPES USING PULSED FIELD GEL ELECTROPHORESIS

Author
item Edrington, Thomas
item Hume, Michael
item Looper, Michael
item Schultz, Carrie
item FITZGERALD, A - NEW MEXICO STATE UNIV
item Callaway, Todd
item Genovese, Kenneth - Ken
item BISCHOFF, KENNETH - 6202-40-30
item McReynolds, Jackson
item Anderson, Robin
item Nisbet, David

Submitted to: Letters in Applied Microbiology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/22/2004
Publication Date: 5/3/2004
Citation: Edrington, T.S., Hume, M.E., Looper, M.L., Fitzgerald, A.C., Callaway, T.R., Genovese, K.J., Bischoff, K.M., McReynolds, J.L., Anderson, R.C., Nisbet, D.J. 2004. Variation in the faecal shedding of Salmonella and E. coli O157:H7 in lactating dairy cattle and examination of Salmonella genotypes using pulsed field gel electrophoresis. Letters In Applied Microbiology. 38:366-372.

Interpretive Summary: Dairy cattle may contain the bacteria E. coli and Salmonella that can make people sick. The purpose of the present study was to determine if fecal shedding of these bacteria changes from season to season. We also examined differences in fecal shedding of bacteria on four farms located close to one another. Results showed that the fecal shedding of these bacteria varies greatly on a single farm and also across different farms. A number of different types of Salmonella were identified in the study.

Technical Abstract: Mature lactating dairy cattle were sampled on four farms, all located within a five-mile radius, in August 2001, January 2002 and again in August 2002. Fecal samples were collected via rectal palpation and cultured for E. coli O157:H7 and Salmonella. A portion of the Salmonella isolates were serotyped and examined for genetic relatedness using pulsed field gel electrophoresis. Fecal shedding of E. coli O157:H7 and Salmonella varied considerably between farms and at the different sampling times. Large fluctuations in the percentage of positive animals were observed from summer to summer for both of these pathogens. Similarly, Salmonella serotype and serotype prevalence varied from farm to farm and within farm from one sampling time to another. Multiple Salmonella genotypes were detected for a number of serotypes and identical genotypes were found on different farms with one genotype of Salmonella Senftenberg identified on three of the four farms. This study demonstrated the wide variability in pathogen shedding within and among dairy farms all located in a small geographical region and highlights the complexity of pathogen control at the farm level.