title: Detection, distribution and probable fate of Escherichia coli O157 from asymptomatic cattle on a dairy farm.
abstract: The use of commercial anti-Escherichia coli O157-labelled magnetic beads was investigated to improve detection of E. coli O157 by immunomagnetic separation (IMS) from a range of environments on a dairy farm. Immunomagnetic separation proved effective for separation of target cells from laboratory mixtures and during stress in sterile and non-sterile pond water. The IMS procedure was possible with a range of samples (water, faeces, slurry, grass and soil). Non-specific binding of non-target bacterial cells proved problematic in a number of sample types. However, indigenous E. coli O157 cells were detected from samples with a high faecal load, and only with use of IMS. Data on the probable survival and spread of the organism around the farm environment are also discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Genetics and Microbiology, University of Liverpool, UK.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Porter
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Mobbs
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Hart
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Saunders
authors.forename: R W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Pickup
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Edwards
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D002418:Cattle Diseases / Q000382:microbiology*; D003612:Dairying; D004927:Escherichia coli Infections / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D019453:Escherichia coli O157 / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D018189:Immunomagnetic Separation