Factors associated with fecal shedding of verotoxin-producing Escherichia coli O157 on dairy farms.
Fecal samples were collected from 4,361 dairy cows on 91 dairy operations between 26 February and 8 July 1996. Fecal samples were cultured for Escherichia coli O157, and positive isolates were probed for verotoxin-producing genes. A total of 52 (1.2%) fecal samples on 22 (24.2%) operations were positive for verotoxin-producing E. coli O157. Herds in which samples were collected on or after 1 May 1996 were significantly more likely to test positive than herds sampled before that date (odds ratio = 7.7). Herds maintained on farms on which alleyways were flushed with water to remove manure were 8.0 times more likely to have samples test positive for verotoxin-producing E. coli O157 than were herds maintained on farms cleaned by use of other methods of manure removal.
Garber
L
L
U.S. Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Veterinary Services, Centers for Epidemiology and Animal Health, Fort Collins, Colorado 80521, USA. lindsey.p.garber@usda.gov
Wells
S
S
Schroeder-Tucker
L
L
Ferris
K
K
D000821:Animal Feed; D000818:Animals; D001427:Bacterial Toxins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D002417:Cattle / Q000382:microbiology*; D003612:Dairying; D019453:Escherichia coli O157 / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000378:metabolism; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D022622:Shiga Toxin 1
D001427:Bacterial Toxins; D022622:Shiga Toxin 1