Identification of management risk factors for VTEC O157 in young-stock in England and Wales.
We conducted a cross-sectional study on 255 cattle farms in England and Wales to identify risk factors for verocytotoxin-producing E. coli O157 (VTEC). Exposure variables were collected at the levels of the farm and of the group of young-stock within the farms. On each farm a group of young-stock (6-18 months of age) was sampled to establish VTEC status. In our multiple logistic regression, farm VTEC status was associated with access to springs (OR: 0.31, CI95%: 0.12, 0.78) and assessing the wetness of the bedding material less frequently than daily (OR: 3.89 CI95%: 1.5, 10.2). At group-level we found no associated risk factors for animals housed outdoors in fields. Significant for groups housed in pens were wet bedding (wet OR: 3.43, CI95%: 1.3, 9.4; very wet OR: 4.24, CI95%: 1.2, 14.6), number of animals in the group (10-15 OR: 2.72, CI95%: 0.75, 9.9, 16-24, OR: 3.78, CI95%: 1.2, 12.3; >25 OR: 3.78, CI95%: 1.1, 12.7) and feeding straw (OR: 2.29, CI95%: 1.2, 5.5).
Ellis-Iversen
Johanne
J
Centre for Epidemiology and Risk Analysis, Veterinary Laboratories Agency, Weybridge, New Haw, Addlestone, Surrey KT15 3NB, UK. J.Ellis-Iversen@vla.defra.gsi.gov.uk
Smith
Richard P
RP
Snow
Lucy C
LC
Watson
Eamon
E
Millar
Michael F
MF
Pritchard
Geoff C
GC
Sayers
Anthony R
AR
Cook
Alasdair J C
AJ
Evans
Sarah J
SJ
Paiba
Giles A
GA
D000818:Animals; D001427:Bacterial Toxins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D002417:Cattle; D002418:Cattle Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004739:England / Q000453:epidemiology; D004927:Escherichia coli Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000662:veterinary*; D019453:Escherichia coli O157; D006799:Housing, Animal; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014852:Wales / Q000453:epidemiology
D001427:Bacterial Toxins