AIMS To determine if exogenous melatonin (MEL) influences growth of Escherichia coli O157:H7 in pure culture and if MEL affects faecal shedding patterns of E. coli O157:H7 or total leucocyte counts in sheep. METHODS AND RESULTS Two strains of E. coli O157:H7 were cultured in the presence of varying concentrations of MEL. Maximal specific growth rates of E.coli O157:H7 strains were not affecte...

AIMS To determine if thyroid function affects faecal shedding of Escherichia coli O157:H7. METHODS AND RESULTS Eight yearling cattle (n = 4 per treatment group), previously identified as shedding E. coli O157:H7, received either 0 or 10 mg 6-N-propyl-2-thiouracil (PTU) kg(-1) BW day(-1) for 14 days to reduce serum concentrations of the thyroid hormones, T(3) and T(4). Animals were monitored d...

Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Non-O157 shiga toxin producing E. coli (STEC) serogroups O26, O45, O103, O111, O121, or O145 are both considered adulterated in non-intact beefs. Forty to fifty-eight percent of U.S. consumers prefer to order beef steaks of medium rare to rare status. From 2000 to 2007, undercooked non-intact beef products have been involved in several outbreaks in the United States...

Studies were conducted to evaluate fecal shedding of Escherichia coli O157:H7 in a small group of inoculated deer, determine the prevalence of the bacterium in free-ranging white-tailed deer, and elucidate relationships between E. coli O157:H7 in wild deer and domestic cattle at the same site. Six young, white-tailed deer were orally administered 10(8) CFU of E. coli O157:H7. Inoculated deer we...

The effect of trans-cinnamaldehyde (TC) on the inactivation of Escherichia coli O157:H7 in undercooked ground beef patties was investigated. A five-strain mixture of E. coli O157:H7 was inoculated into ground beef (7.0log CFU/g), followed by addition of TC (0, 0.15, and 0.3%). The meat was formed into patties and stored at 4 degrees C for 5 days or at -18 degrees C for 7 days. The patties were ...

BACKGROUND Escherichia coli O157:H7 (E. coli O157:H7) is an important pathogenic bacterium that threatens human health. A rapid, simple, highly sensitive, and specific method for the detection of E. coli O157:H7 is necessary. METHODS In the present study, immunomagnetic nanoparticles (IMPs) were prepared with nanopure iron as the core, coated with E. coli O157:H7 polyclonal antibodies. These ...

Experimentally inoculated sheep and cattle were used as models of natural ruminant infection to investigate the pattern of Escherichia coli O157:H7 shedding and gastrointestinal tract (GIT) location. Eighteen forage-fed cattle were orally inoculated with E. coli O157:H7, and fecal samples were cultured for the bacteria. Three distinct patterns of shedding were observed: 1 month, 1 week, and 2 m...

Soil can be a significant source of preharvest contamination of produce by pathogens. Demand for natural pesticides such as essential oils for organic farming continues to increase. We examined the antimicrobial activity of several essential oils against Escherichia coli O157:H7 in soil. Two essential oils (cinnamaldehyde and eugenol), two bio-pesticides (Ecotrol and Sporan) containing essentia...

The objective of this study was to determine if wet distillers grains with solubles (WDGS) from corn in diets affected Escherichia coli O157:H7 in growing and finishing cattle; steers (n = 603) were randomly assigned to diets with or without WDGS. Hide and fecal samples were collected monthly (October through June) from each animal for enumeration and enrichment of E. coli O157:H7. In the growi...