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Escherichia coli O157[ratio ]H7 infection of calves: infectious dose and direct contact transmission

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 February 2002

T. E. BESSER
Affiliation:
Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, Washington State University, P.O. Box 647040, Pullman WA 99164–7040, USA
B. L. RICHARDS
Affiliation:
Field Disease Investigation Unit, Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman WA 99164
D. H. RICE
Affiliation:
Field Disease Investigation Unit, Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman WA 99164
D. D. HANCOCK
Affiliation:
Field Disease Investigation Unit, Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman WA 99164
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Abstract

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Cattle are considered to be a reservoir host of Escherichia coli O157[ratio ]H7 and contaminated foods of bovine origin are important vehicles of human infection. In this study, the susceptibility of calves to experimental E. coli O157[ratio ]H7 infection following low oral exposures was determined. Two of 17 calves exposed to very low (<300 c.f.u.) doses, and 3 of 4 calves exposed to low (<10000 c.f.u.) doses, subsequently excreted the challenge strains in their faeces. All calves (n = 12) sharing isolation rooms with calves that excreted the challenge strain in their faeces similarly began faecal excretion of the same strains within 21 days or less. The identity between the challenge strains and the strains excreted in calf faeces was confirmed by restriction digestion electrophoretic patterns using pulsed field gel electrophoresis. Calves shed E. coli O157[ratio ]H7 in their faeces after very low dose exposures at concentrations ranging from <30 to >107 c.f.u./g, and for durations similar to the values previously reported for calves challenged by larger doses. The susceptibility of calves to infection following very low exposures or direct contact with infected calves has important implications for programmes for pre-harvest control of this agent.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
2001 Cambridge University Press