title: An examination of risk factors associated with beef cattle shedding pathogens of potential zoonotic concern.
abstract: The prevalence of three waterborne zoonotic pathogens (Campylobacter sp., Giardia sp. and Cryptosporidium parvum) in rectal faecal samples from a random sample of adult beef cattle was determined. Management factors that may be associated with shedding of these organisms were examined. For Campylobacter sp. prevalence was 5.0%, and the number of females on the farm was positively associated with the proportion that tested positive. For Giardia sp. prevalence was 6.5%, and none of the management factors examined was significantly associated with the proportion in a herd testing positive. C. parvum was identified in 1.1% of samples. The length of calving season and whether any procedures were performed on the calves in the first 2 days of life were positively associated with the proportion that tested positive. We conclude that this sample of adult beef cattle represent a relatively limited threat to water supplies and subsequent disease transmission to humans from these pathogens.
authors.affiliation: Department of Population Health and Reproduction, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California-Davis, 95616, USA.
authors.forename: B R
authors.initials: BR
authors.lastname: Hoar
authors.forename: E R
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Atwill
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Elmi
authors.forename: T B
authors.initials: TB
authors.lastname: Farver
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002140:California / Q000453:epidemiology; D016123:Campylobacter jejuni / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D002417:Cattle; D002418:Cattle Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D003458:Cryptosporidium / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D005260:Female; D019198:Giardiavirus / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D014871:Water Microbiology; D015047:Zoonoses / Q000453:epidemiology