title: Prevalence rates of Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Salmonella at different sampling sites on cattle hides at a feedlot and processing plant.
abstract: The prevalence rates of Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Salmonella at different sampling sites on cattle hides were determined at a feedlot and a processing plant. Sponge samples were collected from six hide surface sites at the feedlot (left and right shoulders, left and right ribs, back, and belly) and four sites at the processing plant (left and right shoulders, back, and belly). The prevalence of E. coli O157:H7 was approximately 80% for left and right shoulder and rib samples, 68% for back samples, and 92% for belly samples collected at the feedlot. At the processing plant, the prevalences of E. coli O157:H7 at all four sites were between 76 and 79%. Salmonella prevalence in feedlot samples was too low to allow for accurate analysis. The prevalence of Salmonella at processing was 49% for left shoulder samples, 48% for right shoulder samples, 40% for back samples, and 68% for belly samples. The results of this study indicate that the site most likely to be naturally contaminated with E. coli O157:H7 and Salmonella simultaneously was the belly.
authors.affiliation: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Roman L. Hruska U.S. Meat Animal Research Center, Clay Center, Nebraska 68933-0166, USA. norasak.kalchayanand@ars.usda.gov
authors.forename: Norasak
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kalchayanand
authors.forename: Dayna M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Brichta-Harhay
authors.forename: Terrance M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Arthur
authors.forename: Joseph M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Bosilevac
authors.forename: Michael N
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Guerini
authors.forename: Tommy L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Wheeler
authors.forename: Steven D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Shackelford
authors.forename: Mohammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Koohmaraie
mesh_terms: D000822:Animal Husbandry; D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle / Q000382:microbiology*; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D004783:Environmental Microbiology; D019453:Escherichia coli O157 / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D005506:Food Contamination / Q000032:analysis / Q000517:prevention & control; D005516:Food Microbiology; D005525:Food-Processing Industry; D006197:Hair / Q000382:microbiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012475:Salmonella / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D012621:Seasons; D012867:Skin / Q000382:microbiology