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PubMed2004

Effects of enteral and intravenous fluid therapy, magnesium sulfate, and sodium sulfate on colonic contents and feces in horses.

OBJECTIVE: To assess changes in systemic hydration, concentrations of electrolytes in plasma, hydration of colonic contents and feces, and gastrointestinal transit in horses treated with IV fluid therapy or enteral administration of magnesium sulfate (MgSO4), sodium sulfate (NaSO4), water, or a balanced electrolyte solution. ANIMALS: 7 horses with fistulas in the right dorsal colon (RDC). PROCEDURE: In a crossover design, horses alternately received 1 of 6 treatments: no treatment (control); IV fluid therapy with lactated Ringer's solution; or enteral administration of MgSO4, Na2SO4, water, or a balanced electrolyte solution via nasogastric intubation. Physical examinations were performed and samples of blood, RDC contents, and feces were collected every 6 hours during the 48 hour-observation period. Horses were muzzled for the initial 24 hours but had access to water ad libitum. Horses had access to hay, salt, and water ad libitum for the last 24 hours. RESULTS: Enteral administration of a balanced electrolyte solution and Na2SO4 were the best treatments for promoting hydration of RDC contents, followed by water. Sodium sulfate was the best treatment for promoting fecal hydration, followed by MgSO4 and the balanced electrolyte solution. Sodium sulfate caused hypocalcemia and hypernatremia, and water caused hyponatremia. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Enteral administration of a balanced electrolyte solution promoted hydration of RDC contents and may be useful in horses with large colon impactions. Enteral administration of either Na2SO4 or water may promote hydration of RDC contents but can cause severe electrolyte imbalances.

Analysis of Variance↗

PubMed2003

Potential pathogens in feces from unweaned llamas and alpacas with diarrhea.

OBJECTIVE: To identify potential pathogens in feces from llama and alpaca crias with diarrhea. DESIGN: Prospective observational study. ANIMALS: 45 unweaned crias with diarrhea. PROCEDURE: Fecal samples were evaluated for Eimeria spp, Giardia spp, Cryptosporidium spp, enteric viruses, and Salmonella spp. A questionnaire yielded information concerning herd management and presence of other affected camelids. RESULTS: 28 crias were < or = 31 days old, 11 were 32 to 62 days old, and 6 were 63 to 210 days old. Potential pathogens were isolated from feces from 32 of the 45 crias. A total of 39 potential pathogens were obtained, including coronavirus (n = 19 crias; 42%), Giardia spp (8; 18%), Eimeria spp (6; 13%), Cryptosporidium spp (4; 9%), rotavirus (1; 2%), and nematode ova (1; 2%). Salmonella spp were not isolated. Most crias from which potential pathogens were isolated were identified during outbreaks of diarrhea involving other camelids, although only coronavirus was isolated from crias identified during outbreaks involving adult camelids. Coronavirus was detected throughout the year, whereas protozoa were most commonly isolated during the fall and winter. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Results suggest that a variety of potential pathogens may be isolated from young crias with diarrhea. Many crias shed coronavirus, which may also have been affecting older camelids. Protozoa were isolated most often during wetter months, suggesting that crias born during these months may have greater exposure to protozoal pathogens.

Animals↗

PubMed2006

Impact of hospitalization and antimicrobial drug administration on antimicrobial susceptibility patterns of commensal Escherichia coli isolated from the feces of horses.

Objective-To evaluate antimicrobial susceptibility of commensal Escherichia coli strains isolated from the feces of horses and investigate relationships with hospitalization and antimicrobial drug (AMD) administration. Design-Observational study. Animals-68 hospitalized horses that had been treated with AMDs for at least 3 days (HOSP-AMD group), 63 hospitalized horses that had not received AMDs for at least 4 days (HOSP-NOAMD group), and 85 healthy horses that had not been hospitalized or treated with AMDs (community group). Procedures-Fecal samples were submitted for bacterial culture, and up to 3 E coli colonies were recovered from each sample. Antimicrobial susceptibility of 724 isolates was evaluated. Prevalence of resistance was compared among groups by use of log-linear modeling. Results-For 12 of the 15 AMDs evaluated, prevalence of antimicrobial resistance differed significantly among groups, with prevalence being highest among isolates from the HOSP-AMD group and lowest among isolates from the community group. Isolates recovered from the HOSP-AMD and HOSP-NOAMD groups were also significantly more likely to be resistant to multiple AMDs. Resistance to sulfamethoxazole and resistance to trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole were most common, followed by resistance to gentamicin and resistance to tetracycline. Use of a potentiated sulfonamide, aminoglycosides, cephalosporins, or metronidazole was positively associated with resistance to 1 or more AMDs, but use of penicillins was not associated with increased risk of resistance to AMDs. Conclusion and Clinical Relevance-Results suggest that both hospitalization and AMD administration were associated with prevalence of antimicrobial resistance among E coli strains isolated from the feces of horses.

Animals↗

PubMed1991

Effect of type of fiber on the rate of passage and on the contribution of soft feces to nutrient intake of finishing rabbits.

One hundred thirty New Zealand White x California rabbits were used to study the influence of the source of dietary fiber on several digestive criteria. Five diets were formulated to provide 10% crude fiber (CF) on a DM basis. Sixty percent of this dietary fiber was supplied by alfalfa hay, citrus pulp, beet pulp, grape marc, or rice hulls in the diets. Weights of cecal contents, cecal ammonia concentration, and molar proportion of acetic acid in diets including pulps were higher and cecal levels of DM, CP, and molar proportion of butyric acid were lower than those of the alfalfa diet. Cecal ammonia, VFA, and CF concentrations of the grape marc diet were the lowest of all the diets studied; cecal CF level and molar proportion of acetic acid were significantly higher and CP level and molar proportion of butyric acid were lower in rice hull than in alfalfa diets. Diet had no influence on daily soft feces excretion (10 g DM/d), but N contribution of soft feces to N intake was higher in the diet with citrus pulp (18.7%) than in the other diets (12%). Mean retention time (R) was measured using fuchsin-stained feed and was found to be higher (21.3 h) in the rice hull diet and lower (9.3 h) in the grape marc diet than in the other diets. When coprophagy was prevented, R decreased by 0 to 7 h. In conclusion, the use of byproducts to substitute for traditional sources of fiber in rabbit diets influenced the retention time of the digesta in some segments of the gut and thus altered several digestive criteria.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animal Feed↗

PubMed1990

Short-chain fatty acid and organic acid concentrations in feces of healthy human volunteers and their correlations with anaerobe cultural counts during systemic ceftriaxone administration.

Short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) and organic acid concentrations and (an)aerobe cultural counts were determined simultaneously in fresh feces from 10 human volunteers before, during, and after 5 days of single-dose ceftriaxone administration. The changes and the correlation coefficients between these variables were tested to be significant (P less than 0.05). to investigate whether significant changes in the intestinal microflora could be predicted by significant changes in SCFA/organic acid concentrations. Multivariate analysis was used with the same objective. Significant decreases in most SCFA, total SCFA (0.01 less than P less than 0.02), and pyruvic acid (0.02 less than P less than 0.05) concentrations in feces were found on day 3 of treatment and also on day 5, with the exception of the pyruvic acid concentrations. Lactic acid concentrations, however, were significantly increased (0.01 less than P less than 0.02) on day 5. All anaerobic cultural counts were significantly decreased (P less than 0.05) on days 3 and 5 of treatment except those for Clostridium difficile agar, which were only decreased on day 5. Highly significant correlations were found on day 3 between the total anaerobe counts (P less than 0.001), the Bacteroides counts (P less than 0.001), and propionic acid, of which the latter had a predictive value during treatment. The results of multivariate analysis were significant but did not have a predictive value. From this study we can conclude that propionic acid concentrations during ceftriaxone treatment in healthy volunteers have a predictive value for the Bacteroides cultural counts. The results of this study must be confirmed by those from patients treated with ceftriaxone.

Adult↗

PubMed2003

Assimilation of cholesterol by yeast strains isolated from infant feces and Feta cheese.

Eight yeast strains isolated from infant feces and the traditional Greek Feta cheese, selected for their probiotic properties, were tested along with a commercially available strain of Saccharomyces boulardii for their ability to remove cholesterol from a growth medium (yeast extract glucose peptone broth) supplemented with 0.3% Oxgall. The amount of cholesterol removed during 72 h of growth at 37 degrees C revealed significant variations among the yeast strains examined. Two isolates from infant feces, namely Saccharomyces cerevisiae KK1 and Isaatchenkia orientalis KK5.Y.1 and one isolate from Feta cheese, namely S. cerevisiae 832, along with the commercial strain S. boulardii, were able to remove cholesterol from the growth medium after 48 h of incubation at 37 degrees C. However, Saccharomyces strains proved to be able to remove cholesterol even after 24 h of growth at 37 degrees C. The cholesterol removed from the growth medium was not metabolically degraded but was rather assimilated into the yeast cells. The ability to assimilate cholesterol in vitro and to tolerate low pH levels, gastric juice, and bile indicate that S. cerevisiae 832, and especially S. cerevisiae KK1 and I. orientalis KK5.Y.1 (being more bile and gastric juice tolerant because of their human origin) may be promising candidate strains for use as probiotics.

Animals↗

PubMed2003

Detection of transgenic and endogenous plant DNA in rumen fluid, duodenal digesta, milk, blood, and feces of lactating dairy cows.

The objective was to determine the presence or absence of transgenic and endogenous plant DNA in ruminal fluid, duodenal digesta, milk, blood, and feces, and if found, to determine fragment size. Six multiparous lactating Holstein cows fitted with ruminal and duodenal cannulas received a total mixed ration. There were two treatments (T). In T1, the concentrate contained genetically modified (GM) soybean meal (cp4epsps gene) and GM corn grain (cry1a[b] gene), whereas T2 contained the near isogenic non-GM counterparts. Polymerase chain reaction analysis was used to determine the presence or absence of DNA sequences. Primers were selected to amplify small fragments from single-copy genes (soy lectin and corn high-mobility protein and cp4epsps and cry1a[b] genes from the GM crops) and multicopy genes (bovine mitochondrial cytochrome b and rubisco). Single-copy genes were only detected in the solid phase of rumen and duodenal digesta. In contrast, fragments of the rubisco gene were detected in the majority of samples analyzed in both the liquid and solid phases of ruminal and duodenal digesta, milk, and feces, but rarely in blood. The size of the rubisco gene fragments detected decreased from 1176 bp in ruminal and duodenal digesta to 351 bp in fecal samples.

Animals↗

PubMed2004

Phosphorus concentration and solubility in dairy feces: variability and affecting factors.

Recent data from phosphorus (P) feeding trials have demonstrated that P concentration in dairy feces is directly affected by P levels in diets and that farm P surpluses as well as potential environmental losses can be reduced through dietary manipulation. The current study was conducted to examine the variability of fecal P under farm conditions and to elucidate factors affecting the concentration and solubility of fecal P. Feed and fecal samples from >30 commercial dairies in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions were analyzed. Dietary P concentrations ranged from 3.45 to 5.78 g/kg of feed DM (DM), and P determined in acid digests (TP) of feces from 5.84 to 12.84 g/kg of fecal DM. On average, 50% of fecal TP was water soluble; of the latter, 83% was inorganic (Pi). Across-farm variability (n=33) had CV averaging 18.9% for fecal TP and >20% for Pi and total P (Pt) in water extracts. Within-farm variability based on multiple samples per herd had the same magnitude as across-farm and was independent of sample numbers from individual farms (n=7 to 30). Of all fecal parameters determined, pH and DM had the lowest variability (CV <10%), water-soluble Pi, Pt, and Ca the highest (CV of 20 to 30%), and total P, Ca, and Mg determined by acid digests were intermediate (CV 10 to 20%). Water-soluble Pi concentrations determined in dried-ground fecal samples were lower than in wet samples. The drying-grinding process changes Pi solubility and the change is not linear. This study confirms that dietary P concentration is the dominating factor affecting fecal P excretion; however, Ca concentration, DIM, and fecal pH also made small, but statistically significant contributions, although some of the mechanisms remain to be thoroughly investigated.

Animal Feed↗

PubMed2006

Selenium supplementation of lactating dairy cows: effect on selenium concentration in blood, milk, urine, and feces.

The objectives were to determine effects of graded levels of selenized yeast derived from a specific strain of Saccharomyces cerevisiae (CNCM I-3060) on animal performance and in selenium concentrations in the blood, milk, feces, and urine of dairy cows compared with sodium selenite; and to provide preliminary data on the proportion of selenium as selenomethionine in the milk and blood. Twenty Holstein cows were used in a 5 x 5 Latin square design study in which all cows received the same total mixed rations, which varied only in source or concentration of dietary selenium. There were 5 experimental treatments. Total dietary selenium of treatment 1, which received no added selenium, was 0.15 mg/kg of dry matter, whereas values for treatments 2, 3, and 4, derived from selenized yeast, were 0.27, 0.33, and 0.40 mg/kg of dry matter, respectively. Treatment 5 contained 0.25 mg of selenium obtained from sodium selenite/kg of dry matter. There were no significant treatment effects on animal performance, and blood chemistry and hematology showed few treatment effects. Regression analysis noted significant positive linear effects of increasing dietary selenium derived from selenized yeast on selenium concentrations in the milk, blood, urine, and feces. In addition, milk selenium results indicated improved bioavailability of selenium from selenized yeast, compared with sodium selenite. Preliminary analyses showed that compared with sodium selenite, the use of selenized yeast increased the concentration of selenomethionine in the milk and blood. There was no indication of adverse effects on cow health associated with the use of selenized yeast.

Animal Feed↗

PubMed1982

Effect of dietary polyunsaturated phospholipid on the chemical composition of mesenteric lymph chylomicrons and the excretion of steroids into bile and feces in rat.

The effect of soybean phospholipid (SP) on the chemical composition of lymph chylomicrons and excretion of steroids into bile and feces was examined. Rats were meal-fed (9 am-10 am) or ad libitum-fed on diets containing phospholipid and neutral lipid (soybean oil or corn oil) for 2 weeks in order to assess the amount of chylomicrons secreted from the intestine during the absorption or post-absorption of dietary lipids. In meal-fed rats, dietary SP decreased the concentration of surface components (phospholipid, cholesterol and apoprotein A-I) of large chylomicrons and increased the core components (triglyceride) of small chylomicrons. In ad libitum-fed rats given SP, the concentration of triglyceride in small chylomicrons appeared to increase. Dietary SP increased the relative proportion of linoleic acid and decreased arachidonic acid at the 2-position of chylomicron-phospholipids. The calculated diameter of large and small chylomicron particles in meal-fed rats given SP increased and the particle number per ml lymph decreased compared to those values in rats given neutral lipid. The particle size of the small chylomicron in ad libitum-fed rats given SP also increased. Apoprotein A-I in lymph phosphate to microsomal membrane increased in the SP-fed rats. The excretion of neutral, but not acidic steroids into the bile and feces was increased in SP-fed rats.

Animals↗

PubMed1999

Secretion and excretion of immunoglobulin A to cecum and feces differ with type of indigestible saccharides.

The study was conducted to elucidate the effects of orally administered indigestible saccharides (IDS) on immunoresponses of the intestinal tracts, especially secretion and excretion of immunoglobulin A (IgA). Male 4-week-old Sprague-Dawley rats were fed diets containing several kinds of IDS (cellulose, corn husk, glucomannan, curdlan and lactulose) at 5% for three weeks. The results indicated that the proportion of IgA-presenting lymphocytes in the cecal mucosa of the tested IDS groups increased significantly or tended to increase compared with that of the cellulose group. No significant differences among the experimental groups were observed in the CD4(+)- and CD8(+)-presenting lymphocytes and the CD4+/CD8+ ratios in the small intestine, cecum and mesenteric lymph nodes. IgA amounts in the cecal contents increased significantly in the glucomannan and curdlan groups as compared with that in the cellulose group. The inconsistent results were observed in the cecal IgA amounts of the lactulose group. Although IgA excretion into feces increased periodically in the cellulose, hardly any changes were observed in the glucomannan and curdlan groups. These results revealed that IgA secretion from cecal mucosa to contents was promoted, and its excretion to feces was decreased by the oral administration of highly fermentable IDS, respectively, while non- or low-fermentable IDS functioned adversely to IgA responses in the intestinal tract. It is suggested that the response of IgA in the intestinal immune system differs with the type of IDS ingested.

Administration, Oral↗

PubMed2001

Details of true calcium absorption and calcium excretion into feces in female rats during growth.

The details of calcium flux during growth were examined in female rats. Twenty-eight 53-d-old rats were equally divided into 4 groups. Rats were given a purified diet (0.5% Ca and 0.35% Pi) throughout the experiment. Calcium balance and 45Ca kinetics studies using an open two-compartment model were performed over a 3-d period when rats were 60 (control), 74 , 88 and 116 d old. A simple calcium balance study, using the last group, was carried out at the age of 102 d. Compared with the control group, true intestinal calcium absorption was significantly increased at 74 d, but then decreased in a time-dependent manner up to 116 d. The apparent intestinal calcium absorption began to decrease at 88 d, and decreased further with age. An increase in urinary calcium output was observed at 74 and 88 d in phase with calcium excretion into the intestine, and both variables returned to the control level at 116 d. Calcium into bone was decreased at 74 and 116 d. Calcium from bone similarly changed with Vo+ at 74 d: however the highest value was observed at 88 d. Thereafter, Vo- reached the control level at 116 d. Calcium balance rapidly decreased at 88, 102 and 116 d, but still remained positive. Calcium intake remained steady until 102 d, but was significantly decreased at the end of the experiment. The changes in calcium flux with age can be summarized as follows: 1) bone turnover decreased, calcium excretion into the urine and feces began to increase, and true intestinal calcium absorption increased, 2) apparent intestinal calcium absorption decreased, while calcium from bone and calcium excretion into the urine and feces increased, and 3) calcium intake and calcium into bone decreased.

Age Factors↗

PubMed1998

Motile aeromonads in the feces and carcasses of broiler chickens in turkey.

Motile Aeromonas spp. were surveyed in chicken feces, carcasses, scalding water, and chilling water during slaughtering in a commercial processing plant in Turkey. Fecal and carcass samples of 351 chickens from 15 different flocks were examined by selective isolation techniques. All of the 15 flocks were positive for motile aeromonads. Motile aeromonads were detected in 14.8%, 90.5%, and 100% of fecal, carcass, and chilling water samples, respectively, while scalding water samples were negative for these organisms. Aeromonas hydrophila was the predominant species in both feces (51.9%) and carcass (66.9%) samples, followed by A. caviae and A. sobria. These results suggested that during the slaughtering process the spread of motile aeromonads from the intestinal contents to carcasses via processing water caused a heavy contamination of chicken carcasses.

Abattoirs↗

PubMed2000

Evaluation of the Reveal and SafePath rapid Escherichia coli O157 detection tests for use on bovine feces and carcasses.

The Reveal (Neogen Corp., Lansing, Mich.) and SafePath (SafePath Laboratories LLC, St. Paul, Minn.) tests were evaluated for their performance as beef fecal and beef carcass Escherichia coli O157:H7 monitoring tests. Agreement between these tests and a reference test system was determined using naturally contaminated bovine feces and beef carcasses. The reference system utilized immunomagnetic separation with plating onto cefixime, tellurite, sorbitol MacConkey agar, followed by colony testing using a serum agglutination test for the O157 antigen. Relative to this reference method, the Reveal test showed a sensitivity of 46% and a specificity of 82% on bovine feces and a specificity of 99% on carcass samples. The SafePath test, demonstrated a significantly higher sensitivity at 79% and a similar specificity of 79%. On carcass samples the SafePath test performed similarly to the Reveal test, demonstrating a specificity of 100% relative to the reference system. There was an insufficient number of E. coli O157-positive carcass samples to estimate precisely the sensitivity of these two methods. Both methods show promise as rapid carcass monitoring tests, but further field testing to estimate sensitivity is needed to complete their evaluation. The proportion of positive fecal samples for E. coli O157:H7 by the reference method ranged from 10.2% to 36% in 10 lots of cattle with an overall mean of 17.3% (39/225). Quarter carcass sponging of 125 carcasses revealed 1.6% positive for the pathogen (2/125).

Abattoirs↗

PubMed2000

A multiplex polymerase chain reaction assay for rapid detection and identification of Escherichia coli O157:H7 in foods and bovine feces.

A multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay was designed to simplify detection of Escherichia coli O157:H7 and to identify the H serogroup and the type of Shiga toxin produced by this bacterium. Primers for a plasmid-encoded hemolysin gene (hly933), and chromosomal flagella (fliCh7; flagellar structural gene of H7 serogroup), Shiga toxins (stx1, stx2), and attaching and effacing (eaeA) genes were used in a multiplex PCR for coamplification of the corresponding DNA sequences from enterohemorrhagic E. coli (EHEC) O157:H7. Enrichment cultures of ground beef, blue cheese, mussels, alfalfa sprouts, and bovine feces, artificially inoculated with various levels of E. coli O157:H7 strain 933, were subjected to a simple DNA extraction step prior to the PCR, and the resulting amplification products were analyzed by agarose gel electrophoresis. Sensitivity of the assay was < or = 1 CFU/g of food or bovine feces (initial inoculum level), and results could be obtained within 24 h. Similar detection levels were obtained with ground beef samples that underwent enrichment culturing immediately after inoculation and samples that were frozen or refrigerated prior to enrichment. The multiplex PCR facilitates detection of E. coli O157:H7 and can reduce the time required for confirmation of isolates by up to 3 to 4 days.

Animals↗

PubMed2002

Comparison of sampling methods for microbiological testing of beef animal rectal/colonal feces, hides, and carcasses.

This study compared sampling methods for detecting Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Salmonella in beef cattle feces and on hides and carcasses and for enumerating E. coli biotype I counts (ECC) on carcasses. Fecal samples were collected by rectal/colonal palpation and colonal sponge swabbing. Hides were sampled by sponge swabbing three sites, hair clipping, excision, rinsing, and gauze swabbing, whereas carcasses were sampled by three-site thoracic and pattern-mark sponge swabbing and tissue excision. Overall, irrespective of sampling method, 36.7, 13.3, and 0.0% of lots contained at least one E. coli O157:H7-positive hide, fecal, and carcass sample, respectively, while the corresponding prevalence of Salmonella was 70.0, 16.7, and 6.7%, respectively. For hide sampling, excision and gauze swabbing yielded the fewest (13.3%) E. coli O157:H7-positive samples, while hair clipping and sponge swabbing yielded the most (23.3%). None of the carcass-sampling methods detected E. coli O157:H7 or differed (P > 0.05) in their ability to enumerate ECC. Colonal swabbing was the most effective (10.0%) method for detecting E. coli O157:H7 in feces. No differences (P > 0.05) in Salmonella prevalence were observed between carcass-sampling methods, although three-site sponge swabbing and tissue excision detected the most (3.3%). Hide rinsing was the most effective (P < 0.05) Salmonella detection method (63.3%), but dangers associated with its application may preclude its use by industry; there were no differences (P > 0.05) among other hide-sampling methods. No differences (P > 0.05) in Salmonella detection were observed between fecal-sampling methods. Overall, three-site sponge swabbing was the most feasible and effective sampling method for the detection of E. coli O157:H7 and Salmonella on hides and carcasses.

Animals↗

PubMed2002

Detection and quantitation of enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli O157, O111, and O26 in beef and bovine feces by real-time polymerase chain reaction.

Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) O157:H7 and certain non-O157 EHEC serotypes (such as O26:H11, O26: NM, O11:H8, and O111:NM) have emerged as significant causes of human disease throughout the world. Important virulence attributes of EHEC are the intimin protein (encoded by the eae gene) and Shiga toxins 1 and 2 (encoded by the stx1 and stx2 genes, respectively). Two sets of real-time polymerase chain reaction (R-PCR) assays were developed for the simultaneous detection and quantitation of EHEC through the monitoring of the presence of the eae and stx genes, and these assays were evaluated. In the eaeR-PCR assay, three sets of primers and TaqMan probes were designed for the amplification and real-time detection of a portion of the eae gene specific to the EHEC O26, O111, and O157 serotypes. In the stxR-PCR assay, two sets of primers and TaqMan probes were used to amplify and detect the stx1 and stx2 genes. DNA prepared from 67 bacterial strains carrying known virulence markers was tested to determine the specificities of the two assays. In the eaeR-PCR assay, eaeO157- and eaeO111-specific primer-probe sets identified only EHEC O157 and O111 strains, respectively. The eaeO26-specific primer-probe set identified all EHEC 026 isolates and some Shiga toxin-negative serotypes of enteropathogenic E. coli and rabbit diarrheagenic E. coli. The stxR-PCR assay was able to identify only those strains carrying either or both of the Shiga toxin-encoding genes. The detection range of both R-PCR assays was linear over DNA concentrations corresponding to 10(3) to 10(8) CFU/ml of an EHEC strain. Both assays were able to detect and quantify very low levels (1 to 10 CFU/g of food or feces) of EHEC in feces and ground beef enriched for 16 h in a modified Trypticase soy broth. In conclusion, eae- and stx-based R-PCR assays are reliable and sensitive methods for the rapid screening and specific and quantitative detection of important serotypes of EHEC in cattle and in foods of bovine origin.

Adhesins, Bacterial↗

PubMed2006

Seasonal prevalence of Escherichia coli O157:H7 in beef cattle feces.

Cattle are an asymptomatic reservoir of Escherichia coli O157:H7, but the bacterial colonization and shedding patterns are poorly understood. The prevalence and shedding of this human pathogen have been reported to be seasonal with rates typically increasing during warm months. The objectives of this study were (i) to assess the prevalence of E. coli O157:H7 in feces of feedlot cattle in Kansas during summer, fall, and winter months, and (ii) to characterize E. coli O157:H7 by screening for virulence factors. Of 891 fecal samples collected, 82 (9.2%) were positive for E. coli O157:H7. No significant differences in prevalence were detected among summer, fall, and winter months. The highest monthly prevalence (18.1%) was detected in February. All tested isolates were positive for stx2 (Shiga toxin 2) and eaeA (intimin) genes; 14 isolates (12.8%) also carried stx1. Our results indicate the prevalence of E. coli O157:H7 in beef cattle feces is not necessarily season dependent.

Animals↗