Fate of Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Salmonella from contaminated manure slurry applied to soil surrounding tall fescue.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the potential transfer of Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Salmonella from contaminated manure slurry into the tissue of tall fescue plants.


RESULTS
Tall fescue plants (n = 50) were fertilized with a manure slurry inoculated with E. coli O157:H7 and Salmonella. Soil was collected and tall fescue plants (n = 10 per day) harvested on day 1, 2, 4, 8, and 14 after manure slurry fertilization. Soil samples were positive for E. coli O157:H7 on all days and on day 1, 2, 8, and 14 for Salmonella. None of the plant tissue samples were positive for E. coli O157:H7 on day 1 or 2; however, 20%, 30% and 40% of plant tissue samples were positive for E. coli O157:H7 on day 4, 8, and 14, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
It may be possible that E. coli O157:H7 can become transmitted and internalized into tall fescue plant tissue within 4 days after exposure to an E. coli O157:H7-contaminated manure slurry. Salmonella did not appear to be transferred to tall fescue plant tissue.


CONCLUSIONS
Faeces contaminated with E. coli O157:11H7 may be one means by which grazing ruminants spread bacterial pathogens to additional animals.
Looper
M L
ML
USDA-ARS, Dale Bumpers Small Farms Research Center, Booneville, AR, USA. mike.looper@ars.usda.gov
Edrington
T S
TS
Callaway
T R
TR
Rosenkrans
C F
CF
D000818:Animals; D019453:Escherichia coli O157 / Q000502:physiology*; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology; D031751:Festuca / Q000382:microbiology*; D008372:Manure / Q000382:microbiology*; D012475:Salmonella / Q000502:physiology*; D012988:Soil Microbiology
D008372:Manure