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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 #126297
Title: PRE-HARVEST INTERVENTION STRATEGIES TO REDUCE ESCHERICHIA COLI O157:H7 IN CATTLE

Author
item Callaway, Todd
item DIEZ-GONZALEZ, FRANCISCO - UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA

Submitted to: Gastrointestinal Microbiology
Publication Type: Book / Chapter
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/20/2001
Publication Date: 10/1/2002
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Escherichia coli O157:H7 is a highly virulent food-borne pathogen that infects more than 70,000 people each year in the U. S and imposes a $700 million burden on the American economy. E. coli O157:H7 is frequently present in the gastrointestinal tract of cattle and is spread to the environment through fecal matter. Ruminant animals are asymptomatic carriers and cattle herds are now considered a natural reservoir of this pathogen. Because this serotype can be transmitted via food, water and direct contact, its ultimate control will require effective pre-harvest strategies to prevent enterohemorrhagic diarrhea. This review examines the use of anti-microbial, pro-biotic, dietary, and management strategies directed to reduce E. coli O157:H7 populations in cattle.