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<p>Focus on emerging diseases: We will identify, characterize and develop improved detection and prevention methods related to newly recognized, novel or emerging causes of zoonotic enteric disease and enteric pathogens of food animals. Focus on preventions and interventions: We will develop and improve preventative measures and interventions to reduce the incidence and prevalence of infections of food animals with enteric and foodborne and waterborne pathogens. Focus on disseminating knowledge: We will provide training or continuing education to disseminate new information to students, producers, veterinarians, diagnostic labs and others to implement interventions and preventative measures. Group interaction: The group will interact in a variety of ways to facilitate progress including direct collaborations with joint publications, sharing of resources (pathogen strains, gene sequences, statistical analysis, bioinformatics information/expertise), and friendly feedback and facilitation for all research efforts at annual meetings.</p> <p>Background: Animals and their waste product are a major source of zoonotic foodborne pathogens. Campylobacter, Salmonella and shiga-toxin producing Escherichia coli (STEC) are ranked the most prevalent of these pathogens, costing the United States millions of dollars every year. Foodborne pathogens can be shed in feces and gastrointestinal secretions or excretions of healthy animals. Also, there is literature to support a theory in which the presence of pathogens in the farm environment depends on ingestion of contaminated feed, followed by amplification in animal hosts and fecal dissemination. Food-producing animals and the farm environment can act as reservoirs for many foodborne pathogens. These pathogens can enter meat and milk products during slaughter or at milking, or can contaminate raw vegetables when soil is fertilized with improperly composted (or uncomposted) animal manure. Odor and water quality problems are the major environmental concerns that are observed during the disposal of manure in livestock production. Therefore, the control of disease causing pathogens in manure is an important issue considered within the concept of manure management. <P>Our research will involve detecting the presence of Salmonella and STEC in run-off samples from two feedlots in North Dakota (Fargo and Cogswell). It is vitally important to rapidly detect the presence or absence of these pathogens so as to guide disposal. <P>The specific goals of this study are to address three objectives (1, 2 and 3) of the multistate project. Objective (1) Focus on emerging diseases: We will identify, characterize and develop improved detection methods by evaluating laboratory methods for detection of Shiga Toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) O26, 045, 091, 0103, EAEC 0104, 0111, 0113, 0118, 0121, 01245 and Samonella enterica from inoculated cattle fecal samples. Objective (2) Focus on preventions and interventions: We will develop and improve preventative measures and interventions to reduce foodborne and waterborne pathogens by determining the presence of E. coli and Salmonella in feedlot run-off from two feedlots in Fargo and Cogswell in North Dakota. Objective (3) Focus on disseminating knowledge: We will provide training to students and producers by dsseminating data generated through training both domestic and international using study abroad course International Animal Production Disease Surveillance and Public Health.</p>
Non-Technical Summary:<br/>
The long-term goal of this project is to prevent and control enteric diseases of cattle, in order to decrease food and waterborne illness in the USA. Foodborne illness has been a prominent public health concern for over two decades yet the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) still list many enteric foodborne pathogens as leading causes of morbidity and mortality in the USA. The information generated from this project will be valuable to the cattle industry, the State Board of Animal Health, Department of Health & Human Services and USDA in future plans in the development of public health policy regarding control of Shiga toxin producing E. coli (STEC)and Salmonella.
<br/>IMPORTANCE and CONSEQUENCES. Besides human health risks, animal diarrheal disease due to food-safety related pathogens and other animal-specific pathogens remain an economically important cause of production loss to livestock producers. The cost of just E. coli O157:H7 to the beef industry from 1993-2003 was estimated at $2.671 billion. While the incidence of disease caused by some of these agents approaches 2010 targets, others are still on the increase particularly diseases caused by STEC.
<br/>IMPACTS, INNOVATION, OUTCOMES. Expected outcomes include increased detection of STEC and Salmonella from beef cattle manure and feedlot run off which will lead to better intervention and control of known enteric infections and emerging enteric pathogens from livestock waste. This will provide science-based best practices and implementation strategies for preventive measures and interventions for the major enteric diseases of food animals. This research will enhance food safety while maintaining efficient beef production.
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Approach:<br/>
Objective (1): For detecting Shiga Toxin-producing E. coli (STEC), the performance (efficiency, sensitivity and specificity) of two different laboratory methods will be compared using STEC-inoculated fecal samples. The detection limits of two routine laboratory methods will be determined using STEC inoculated feces. For Salmonella, a similar approach will be used. The performance (sensitivity and specificity) and detection limits of two different laboratory methods will be compared using Salmonella-inoculated fecal samples. Shiga Toxin-producing E. coli (026, 045, 091, 0103, EAEC 0104, 0111, 0113, 0118 0121, 0145) and Salmonella enterica will be used in the project.
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Objective (2): To develop mehtods for prevention and intervention for Salmonella and Escherichia coli in run-off from feedlot samples, the determination of the risk of these organisms in run-off water will be determined by culturing for Salmonella, E. coli O157.H7, non E. coli O157.H7 following standard protocols in the literature. For Isolation of Salmonella, we will use standard culture methods optimized for the detection of Salmonella (Khaitsa et al., 2007). For the determination of the presence and concentration of E. coli O157.H7 from each sample, 10 ml slurry sample will be placed in 90 ml Gram-negative (GN) enrichment broth containing Cefixime-Tellurite (0.05 ?g per ml) and Potassium Tellurite (2.5 ?g per ml) and incubated for 18-24 h at 37C. One ml of this culture will be subjected to O157 immunomagnetic separation as described by the manufacturer (Dynal Biotech ASA). Twenty ?l of the bead-bacteria washed mixture will be plated on sorbitol-MacConkey agar plates containing cefixime and potassium tellurite and incubated overnight at 37C. For the isolation of non E. coli O157.H7 (E. coli O26, O103, O111, O145), 1 ml of the run-off and buffered peptone water enrichment culture used for Salmonella isolation will be subjected to the appropriate immunomagnetic separation as described by Khaitsa et al., (2007).
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Objective (3): Focus on disseminating knowledge: We will disseminate knowledge gained by offering the course International Animal Production Disease Surveillance and Public Health.
<br/>References. Khaitsa, ML, R. Kegode, M. L. Bauer, P. S. Gibbs, G. P. Lardy and D. Doetkott. 2007. A longitudinal study of Salmonella shedding and antimicrobial susceptibility patterns in North Dakota feedlot cattle. J. Food Prot. 70(2)476-481.