title: Is the prevalence and shedding concentrations of E. coli O157 in beef cattle in Scotland seasonal?
abstract: The prevalence of Escherichia coli O157 in Scottish beef cattle at abattoir was found to be greater during the cooler months [11.2% (95% CI, 8.4-13.9%)] compared to the warmer months [7.5% (95% CI, 5.4-9.6%)]; the reverse of seasonality of human infections. However, high shedding beef cattle (excreting 10(-4) g(-1)) appear to shed greater concentrations of E. coli O157 in the warmer months which may partly explain increased human infection seasonality at this time.
authors.affiliation: Applied Food Microbiology Group, Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Aberdeen, Foresterhill, Aberdeen AB25 2ZD, UK. i.ogden@abdn.ac.uk
authors.forename: Iain D
authors.initials: ID
authors.lastname: Ogden
authors.forename: Marion
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: MacRae
authors.forename: Norval J C
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Strachan
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D002418:Cattle Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D004927:Escherichia coli Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D019453:Escherichia coli O157 / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology; D008460:Meat / Q000382:microbiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012606:Scotland; D012621:Seasons; D014774:Virulence