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The survival of Escherichia coli O157:H7 in slurry from cattle fed different diets
Author(s) -
McGee P.,
Bolton D.J.,
Sheridan J.J.,
Earley B.,
Leonard N.
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
letters in applied microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.698
H-Index - 110
eISSN - 1472-765X
pISSN - 0266-8254
DOI - 10.1046/j.1472-765x.2001.00877.x
Subject(s) - slurry , silage , escherichia coli , inoculation , biology , zoology , persistence (discontinuity) , pathogen , food science , microbiology and biotechnology , environmental science , horticulture , environmental engineering , biochemistry , geotechnical engineering , engineering , gene
P. M c GEE, D.J. BOLTON, J.J. SHERIDAN, B. EARLEY AND N. LEONARD. 2001.Aims: The survival characteristics of Escherichia Coli O157:H7 were investigated in bovine slurry from cattle fed two different diets: (i) silage and (ii) silage + concentrates. Methods and Results: Slurry samples collected from freshly‐agitated tanks were inoculated at a level of log 10 6·0 cfu g −1 and stored in the laboratory at 10°C. Over a 12 week storage period, a 3·5 and 5·5 log reduction was observed in slurry from cattle fed a silage and silage plus concentrate diet, respectively. Conclusions: The persistence of E. coli O157:H7 in slurry over a 3 month storage period indicates its potential for transmitting the organism back into the environment. Singificance and Impact of the Study: The discussion concludes however, that despite pathogen survival in slurry, it may not represent a major source of transmission in the farm environment.