The survival of Escherichia coli O157:H7 in slurry from cattle fed different diets.
OBJECTIVE
The survival characteristics of Escherichia Coli O157:H7 were investigated in bovine slurry from cattle fed two different diets: (i) silage and (ii) silage + concentrates.


RESULTS
Slurry samples collected from freshly-agitated tanks were inoculated at a level of log10 6.0 cfu g(-1) and stored in the laboratory at 10 degrees C. Over a 12 week storage period, a 3.5 and 5.5 log reduction was observed in slurry from cattle fed a silage and silage plus concentrate diet, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
The persistence of E. coli O157:H7 in slurry over a 3 month storage period indicates its potential for transmitting the organism back into the environment.


CONCLUSIONS
The discussion concludes however, that despite pathogen survival in slurry, it may not represent a major source of transmission in the farm environment.
The National Food Centre, Teagasc, Dublin, Ireland. p.mcgee@nfc.teagasc.ie
P
P
McGee
D J
DJ
Bolton
J J
JJ
Sheridan
B
B
Earley
N
N
Leonard
D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D004032:Diet; D004927:Escherichia coli Infections / Q000382:microbiology; D019453:Escherichia coli O157 / Q000502:physiology*; D012820:Silage / Q000382:microbiology*