OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of fecal shedding of Escherichia coli O157:H7 in white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) with access to cattle pastures. DESIGN: Survey study. SAMPLE POPULATION: 212 fecal samples from free ranging white-tailed deer. PROCEDURE: Fresh feces were collected on multiple pastures from 2 farms in north central Kansas between September 1997 and April 1998. Escherichia coli O157:H7 was identified by bacterial culture and DNA-based methods. RESULTS: Escherichia coli O157:H7 was identified in 2.4% (5/212) of white-tailed deer fecal samples. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: There is considerable interest in the beef industry in on-farm control of E coli O157:H7 to reduce the risk of this pathogen entering the human food chain. Results of our study suggest that the design of programs for E coli O157:H7 control in domestic livestock on pasture will need to account for fecal shedding in free-ranging deer. In addition, the results have implications for hunters, people consuming venison, and deer-farming enterprises.
OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of fecal shedding of Escherichia coli O157:H7 in white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) with access to cattle pastures. DESIGN: Survey study. SAMPLE POPULATION: 212 fecal samples from free ranging white-tailed deer. PROCEDURE: Fresh feces were collected on multiple pastures from 2 farms in north central Kansas between September 1997 and April 1998. Escherichia coli O157:H7 was identified by bacterial culture and DNA-based methods. RESULTS:Escherichia coli O157:H7 was identified in 2.4% (5/212) of white-tailed deer fecal samples. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: There is considerable interest in the beef industry in on-farm control of E coli O157:H7 to reduce the risk of this pathogen entering the human food chain. Results of our study suggest that the design of programs for E coli O157:H7 control in domestic livestock on pasture will need to account for fecal shedding in free-ranging deer. In addition, the results have implications for hunters, people consuming venison, and deer-farming enterprises.
Authors: Azucena Mora; Cecilia López; Ghizlane Dhabi; Ana M López-Beceiro; Luís E Fidalgo; Eduardo A Díaz; Carlos Martínez-Carrasco; Rosalía Mamani; Alexandra Herrera; Jesús E Blanco; Miguel Blanco; Jorge Blanco Journal: Appl Environ Microbiol Date: 2012-02-03 Impact factor: 4.792
Authors: Michele T Jay; Michael Cooley; Diana Carychao; Gerald W Wiscomb; Richard A Sweitzer; Leta Crawford-Miksza; Jeff A Farrar; David K Lau; Janice O'Connell; Anne Millington; Roderick V Asmundson; Edward R Atwill; Robert E Mandrell Journal: Emerg Infect Dis Date: 2007-12 Impact factor: 6.883