title: Effect of proximity to a cattle feedlot on Escherichia coli O157:H7 contamination of leafy greens and evaluation of the potential for airborne transmission.
abstract: The impact of proximity to a beef cattle feedlot on Escherichia coli O157:H7 contamination of leafy greens was examined. In each of 2 years, leafy greens were planted in nine plots located 60, 120, and 180 m from a cattle feedlot (3 plots at each distance). Leafy greens (270) and feedlot manure samples (100) were collected six different times from June to September in each year. Both E. coli O157:H7 and total E. coli bacteria were recovered from leafy greens at all plot distances. E. coli O157:H7 was recovered from 3.5% of leafy green samples per plot at 60 m, which was higher (P < 0.05) than the 1.8% of positive samples per plot at 180 m, indicating a decrease in contamination as distance from the feedlot was increased. Although E. coli O157:H7 was not recovered from air samples at any distance, total E. coli was recovered from air samples at the feedlot edge and all plot distances, indicating that airborne transport of the pathogen can occur. Results suggest that risk for airborne transport of E. coli O157:H7 from cattle production is increased when cattle pen surfaces are very dry and when this situation is combined with cattle management or cattle behaviors that generate airborne dust. Current leafy green field distance guidelines of 120 m (400 feet) may not be adequate to limit the transmission of E. coli O157:H7 to produce crops planted near concentrated animal feeding operations. Additional research is needed to determine safe set-back distances between cattle feedlots and crop production that will reduce fresh produce contamination.
authors.affiliation: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Meat Animal Research Center, Clay Center, Nebraska, USA Elaine.Berry@ars.usda.gov.
authors.forename: Elaine D
authors.initials: ED
authors.lastname: Berry
authors.affiliation: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Meat Animal Research Center, Clay Center, Nebraska, USA.
authors.forename: James E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Wells
authors.affiliation: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Meat Animal Research Center, Clay Center, Nebraska, USA.
authors.forename: James L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Bono
authors.affiliation: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Meat Animal Research Center, Clay Center, Nebraska, USA.
authors.forename: Bryan L
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Woodbury
authors.affiliation: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Meat Animal Research Center, Clay Center, Nebraska, USA.
authors.forename: Norasak
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kalchayanand
authors.affiliation: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Meat Animal Research Center, Clay Center, Nebraska, USA.
authors.forename: Keri N
authors.initials: KN
authors.lastname: Norman
authors.affiliation: Department of Plant Sciences, University of California, Davis, California, USA.
authors.forename: Trevor V
authors.initials: TV
authors.lastname: Suslow
authors.affiliation: Department of Plant Sciences, University of California, Davis, California, USA.
authors.forename: Gabriela
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: López-Velasco
authors.affiliation: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, Beltsville, Maryland, USA.
authors.forename: Patricia D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Millner
mesh_terms: D000391:Air Microbiology; D000821:Animal Feed / Q000382:microbiology*; D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D002418:Cattle Diseases / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000635:transmission*; D004927:Escherichia coli Infections / Q000382:microbiology / Q000635:transmission / Q000662:veterinary*; D019453:Escherichia coli O157 / Q000302:isolation & purification*