Molecular epidemiology of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) on New Zealand dairy farms: application of a culture-independent assay and whole genome sequencing.

This study provides evidence that would be useful for designing on-farm interventions to reduce direct and indirect human exposure to STEC.ImportanceCattle are asymptomatic carriers of Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) that can cause bloody diarrhea and kidney failure in humans if ingested. New Zealand has relatively high numbers of STEC cases, and contact with cattle feces and living near cattle are risk factors for human infection. This study assessed the national prevalence of STEC in young dairy cattle by randomly selecting 102 farms all over New Zealand. The study used a molecular laboratory method that has relatively high sensitivity and specificity compared to other methods, providing a higher test accuracy compared to traditional methods. 'Top 7' STEC were found in 20% of calves on 75% of the farms studied, indicating widespread prevalence across the country. By examining the risk factors associated with calf carriage, potential interventions that could decrease the prevalence of 'Top 7' STEC at the farm level were identified, which could benefit both public health and food safety. PMID: 29752274 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
Source: Applied and Environmental Microbiology - Category: Microbiology Authors: Tags: Appl Environ Microbiol Source Type: research