Prevalence of Escherichia coli O157:H7 in white-tailed deer sharing rangeland with cattle.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the prevalence of fecal shedding of Escherichia coli O157:H7 in white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) with access to cattle pastures.


METHODS
Survey study.


METHODS
212 fecal samples from free ranging white-tailed deer.


METHODS
Fresh feces were collected on multiple pastures from 2 farms in north central Kansas between September 1997 and April 1998. Escherichia coli O157:H7 was identified by bacterial culture and DNA-based methods.


RESULTS
Escherichia coli O157:H7 was identified in 2.4% (5/212) of white-tailed deer fecal samples.


CONCLUSIONS
There is considerable interest in the beef industry in on-farm control of E coli O157:H7 to reduce the risk of this pathogen entering the human food chain. Results of our study suggest that the design of programs for E coli O157:H7 control in domestic livestock on pasture will need to account for fecal shedding in free-ranging deer. In addition, the results have implications for hunters, people consuming venison, and deer-farming enterprises.
Sargeant
J M
JM
Food Animal Health and Management Center, Kansas State University, Manhattan 66506, USA.
Hafer
D J
DJ
Gillespie
J R
JR
Oberst
R D
RD
Flood
S J
SJ
D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis; D003670:Deer; D004197:Disease Reservoirs; D004927:Escherichia coli Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission / Q000662:veterinary*; D019453:Escherichia coli O157 / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology*; D007615:Kansas / Q000453:epidemiology; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000662:veterinary; D015995:Prevalence
D004269:DNA, Bacterial