Survival of Escherichia coli O157:H7 in the rhizosphere of maize grown in waste-amended soil.
OBJECTIVE
To assess whether the persistence of Escherichia coli O157:H7 in soil amended with cattle slurry and ovine stomach content waste is affected by the presence of a maize rhizosphere.


RESULTS
Cattle slurry and ovine stomach content waste were inoculated with E. coli O157:H7. Wastes were then applied to soil cores with and without established maize plants. The pathogen survived in soil for over 5 weeks, although at significantly greater numbers in soil receiving stomach content waste in comparison to cattle slurry. Persistence of the pathogen in soil was unaffected by the presence of a rhizosphere.


CONCLUSIONS
Other factors may be more influential in regulating E. coli O157:H7 persistence in waste-amended soil than the presence or absence of a rhizosphere; however, waste type did have significant affect on the survival of E. coli O157:H7 in such soil.


CONCLUSIONS
Escherichia coli O157:H7 can be present within animal-derived organic wastes that are routinely spread on land. Introduced measures with regards to such waste disposal may decrease exposure to the organism; however, the persistence of E. coli O157:H7 for considerable periods in waste-amended soil may still pose some risk for both human and animal infection. This study has shown that whilst survival of E. coli O157:H7 in waste-amended soil is not significantly affected by the presence or absence of a maize rhizosphere; it may vary significantly with waste type. This may have implications for land and waste management.
Williams
A P
AP
School of Agricultural and Forest Sciences, University of Wales, Bangor, Gwynedd, UK. afpe6a@bangor.ac.uk
Avery
L M
LM
Killham
K
K
Jones
D L
DL
D000822:Animal Husbandry; D000818:Animals; D018533:Biomass; D002417:Cattle; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D004787:Environmental Pollution; D052918:Environmental Restoration and Remediation / Q000379:methods; D019453:Escherichia coli O157 / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000382:microbiology; D012722:Sewage; D012756:Sheep; D012988:Soil Microbiology; D003313:Zea mays / Q000382:microbiology*
D012722:Sewage