Shiga toxin producing Escherichia coli: identification of non-O157:H7-Super-Shedding cows and related risk factors

Menrath, Andrea; Wieler, Lothar H.; Heidemanns, Katrin; Semmler, Torsten; Fruth, Angelika; Kemper, Nicole

doi:10.1186/1757-4749-2-7

Cited by 59 publications

(56 citation statements)

References 44 publications

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“…Although studies to date have not assessed aEPEC prevalence, other studies of stx and O157:H7 dairy prevalence have shown both higher (72·7%, 11·1-32·3%) [15,18] and lower (1%) levels [10]. Importantly, high-shedding cattle have been hypothesized to influence herd EHEC propagation, and only one was observed in the current study [21,22].…”

Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 56%

“…Importantly, those animals shedding high quantities of the pathogen ('high-shedders'; >10 3 -10 4 c.f.u./g faeces) may account for the majority of O157 contamination within a herd, increasing animal-to-animal transmission and risk of food chain contamination [18,21,22]. When classifying cows based on O157 shedding magnitude vs. positive shedding alone, outcomes for risk factor analyses can become altered [17].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Climate, lactation, and treatment factors influence faecal shedding ofEscherichia coliO157 pathotypes in dairy cows

et al. 2016

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SUMMARYAmong pathogens shed by cattle, Escherichia coli O157 ranks highest in those causing human illness. To date, prevalence and risk factors for O157 shedding have been assessed in feedlot, but not dairy cattle. The study aimed to determine prevalence levels and risk factors for O157 atypical enteropathogenic E. coli (aEPEC) and enterohaemorrhagic E. coli (EHEC) shedding in dairy cattle. Dairy cattle (n = 899) within the first 21 days of lactation were sampled monthly over the course of 1 year, on three dry lot dairies surrounding Fort Collins, CO. During visits multiple factors were measured (disease history, pharmaceutical use, climate measures, etc.), and cattle faeces were collected and assessed for presence of O157 and virulence genes. Logistic regression analysis was performed using O157 outcomes and measured factors. Prevalence of O157 aEPEC was 3·7%, while EHEC was 3·0%. Many potential risk factors were highly correlated, and used to build separate multivariable models. An increase in humidity was positively associated with aEPEC, while fluid faeces and history of disease showed a negative association. Meanwhile, an increase in temperature and antibiotic treatment was positively associated with EHEC, while more days in milk, higher hygiene score and cow contact were negatively associated. These results may guide mitigation strategies that reduce O157 shedding, and contamination of the human food chain.

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Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 56%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Climate, lactation, and treatment factors influence faecal shedding ofEscherichia coliO157 pathotypes in dairy cows

et al. 2016

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“…A prior study from Minnesota found that dairy calves were significantly more likely than adult cows to be stx positive (42), while a Dutch study found that dairy calves between 4 and 12 months of age were more frequently positive for STEC O157 (40). With regard to age at the time of calving, a German study found that animals undergoing first lactation had a higher risk of STEC shedding than older cows (44), while a longitudinal study in the United Kingdom reported the prevalence of STEC O157 to be the highest in cows 2 years of age, the typical age at first calving (43). Although the multitude of factors that could contribute to the association between lactation number and STEC are not completely understood, they could be related to stress and the energy requirements needed by cows in the first lactation (45), in addition to decreased immune function.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Factors Associated with Shiga Toxin-Producing Escherichia coli Shedding by Dairy and Beef Cattle

Venegas-Vargas

Henderson

Khare

et al. 2016

Appl Environ Microbiol

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Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) is an important foodborne pathogen that can cause hemorrhagic colitis and hemolytic-uremic syndrome. Cattle are the primary reservoir for STEC, and food or water contaminated with cattle feces is the most common source of infections in humans. Consequently, we conducted a cross-sectional study of 1,096 cattle in six dairy herds (n ‫؍‬ 718 animals) and five beef herds (n ‫؍‬ 378 animals) in the summers of 2011 and 2012 to identify epidemiological factors associated with shedding. Fecal samples were obtained from each animal and cultured for STEC. Multivariate analyses were performed to identify risk factors associated with STEC positivity. The prevalence of STEC was higher in beef cattle (21%) than dairy cattle (13%) (odds ratio [OR], 1.76; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.25, 2.47), with considerable variation occurring across herds (range, 6% to 54%). Dairy cattle were significantly more likely to shed STEC when the average temperature was >28.9°C 1 to 5 days prior to sampling (OR, 2.5; 95% CI, 1.25, 4.91), during their first lactation (OR, 1.8; 95% CI, 1.1, 2.8), and when they were <30 days in milk (OR, 3.9; 95% CI, 2.1, 7.2). These data suggest that the stress or the negative energy balance associated with lactation may result in increased STEC shedding frequencies in Michigan during the warm summer months. Future prevention strategies aimed at reducing stress during lactation or isolating high-risk animals could be implemented to reduce herdlevel shedding levels and avoid transmission of STEC to susceptible animals and people. IMPORTANCE STEC shedding frequencies vary considerably across cattle herds in Michigan, and the shedding frequency of strains belonging to non-O157 serotypes far exceeds the shedding frequency of O157 strains, which is congruent with human infections in the state. Dairy cattle sampled at higher temperatures, in their first lactation, and early in the milk production stage were significantly more likely to shed STEC, which could be due to stress or a negative energy balance. Future studies should focus on the isolation of high-risk animals to decrease herd shedding levels and the potential for contamination of the food supply. Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) is an important foodborne pathogen in both developed and developing countries. STEC can cause hemorrhagic colitis and hemolytic-uremic syndrome (HUS), which can lead to kidney failure and death, particularly in young children (1). STEC strains belonging to serotype O157:H7 have been reported to cause human infections at the highest frequency, although there has been a steady increase in the detection of cases caused by STEC serotypes other than O157 (non-O157 STEC) (2-4). This increase is due in part to changes in laboratory diagnostic practices targeting non-O157 STEC (5). The incidence of non-O157 STEC infections in the United States increased from 0.12 per 100,000 population in 2000 to 0.95 per 100,000 in 2010, while the incidence of STEC O157 infections decreased...

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“…Therefore, most research concerning the prevalence of STEC in reservoir animals focuses on these serotypes. In the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom, studies describing the occurrence of O157:H7 in cattle were conducted (12,13), but in continental European countries only few data on the duration of bovine shedding of STEC O26, O103, O111, O145, or O157 exist (14)(15)(16)(17). Interestingly, a longitudinal study measuring the occurrence of STEC in cattle performed by Geue and colleagues showed that other serotypes dominate the intestinal STEC microbiota (18).…”

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confidence: 99%

The Accessory Genome of Shiga Toxin-Producing Escherichia coli Defines a Persistent Colonization Type in Cattle

Barth

Menge

Eichhorn

et al. 2016

Appl Environ Microbiol

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Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) strains can colonize cattle for several months and may, thus, serve as gene reservoirs for the genesis of highly virulent zoonotic enterohemorrhagic E. coli (EHEC). Attempts to reduce the human risk for acquiring EHEC infections should include strategies to control such STEC strains persisting in cattle. We therefore aimed to identify genetic patterns associated with the STEC colonization type in the bovine host. IMPORTANCERuminants, especially cattle, are sources of food-borne infections by Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) in humans. Some STEC strains persist in cattle for longer periods of time, while others are detected only sporadically. Persisting strains can serve as gene reservoirs that supply E. coli with virulence factors, thereby generating new outbreak strains. Attempts to reduce the human risk for acquiring STEC infections should therefore include strategies to control such persisting STEC strains. By analyzing representative genes of their core and accessory genomes, we show that bovine STEC with a persistent colonization type emerged independently from sporadically colonizing isolates and evolved in parallel evolutionary branches. However, persistent colonizing strains share similar sets of accessory genes. Defining the genetic patterns that distinguish persistent from sporadically colonizing STEC isolates will facilitate the targeted design of new intervention strategies to counteract these zoonotic pathogens at the farm level.

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Shiga toxin producing Escherichia coli: identification of non-O157:H7-Super-Shedding cows and related risk factors

Cited by 59 publications

References 44 publications

Climate, lactation, and treatment factors influence faecal shedding ofEscherichia coliO157 pathotypes in dairy cows

Climate, lactation, and treatment factors influence faecal shedding ofEscherichia coliO157 pathotypes in dairy cows

Factors Associated with Shiga Toxin-Producing Escherichia coli Shedding by Dairy and Beef Cattle

The Accessory Genome of Shiga Toxin-Producing Escherichia coli Defines a Persistent Colonization Type in Cattle

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