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Fate of Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Salmonella from contaminated manure slurry applied to soil surrounding tall fescue
Author(s) -
Looper M.L.,
Edrington T.S.,
Callaway T.R.,
Rosenkrans Jr C.F.
Publication year - 2009
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 - 10.1111/j.1472-765x.2009.02563.x
Subject(s) - manure , salmonella , slurry , contamination , biology , escherichia coli , inoculation , plant tissue , agronomy , grazing , bacteria , zoology , microbiology and biotechnology , horticulture , botany , environmental science , ecology , environmental engineering , biochemistry , genetics , gene
Aim: To investigate the potential transfer of Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Salmonella from contaminated manure slurry into the tissue of tall fescue plants. Methods and 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. Significance and Impact of the Study: Faeces contaminated with E. coli O157:11H7 may be one means by which grazing ruminants spread bacterial pathogens to additional animals.