Our long-term objective is to develop a comprehensive risk analysis for this organism in food animals, where we will assess the risk posed by this organism, communicate the risk to the stakeholders, and work with them to devise cost-effective strategies to manage this risk. To this end, we designed a series of studies aimed towards providing data necessary for risk identification and risk management.
Risk identification is the first step in risk assessment and will be the focus of these proposed studies. This entails accurate assessment of factors that play a role in the risk. This objective will be addressed as follows: <OL> <LI> Develop deterministic risk models to estimate the number of pathogenic L. monocytogenes in bulk-tank milk. These models will take into consideration the role of dairy cattle, environment, agent and their interactions on the likelihood of on-farm milk contamination. <LI> Determine the prevalence of L. monocytogenes and identify the factors associated with the likelihood of the organism in beef cattle. This will provide necessary data to estimate the contributory role of beef cattle to human risk. <LI> Based on the information gathered in objectives 1 and 2, we will demonstrate to the producers and decision-makers a method of choosing an optimal intervention strategy for reducing the risk of milk and beef contamination while dealing with uncertainties. The decision tree analytic approach will be used to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of different intervention strategies on the risk of environmental contamination by L. monocytogenes. <LI> Integrate our findings into extension and education programs for the purpose of closing the knowledge gap in the risk of L. monocytogenes. The approach to address these objectives represents a complementary research, education, and extension efforts that build on multidisciplinary, multi-state, multi-institutional resources to address the stated objective.
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The approach to address these objectives represents a complementary research, education, and extension efforts that build on multidisciplinary, multi-state, multi-institutional resources to address the stated objective.
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To assess the potential hazard of Listeria monocytogenes in dairy and beef cattle and associated risk to human health. The purpose of this project is to quantify the risk associated with Listeria monocytogenes in dairy and beef cattle.