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The project goal is to describe and analyze the agro-ecologic inter-relationships between bovine shiga-toxigenic E. coli (STEC) fecal shedding and hide surface contamination and synanthropic muscoid fly STEC occurrence and fly population densities in dairy and beef cattle operations in multiple states.
There are three related research objectives to address this goal: (1): To measure the summer point prevalence of STEC 0157, 0111 and 026 in feces and on hides of cattle and in locally abundant muscoid pest fly populations (primarily house, stable, and horn flies) and concurrently estimate fly population densities on 60 dairy and beef (feed lot and cow-calf) farms; (2) To determine the agroecologic inter-relationships between pest flies, cattle, and STEC 0157, 0111, and 026 by intensively monitoring fly population densities and fly and cattle STEC occurrence on four Nebraska and two Tennessee cattle farms over two years (cohort [time trend] study); (3): To measure effects of total pest fly exclusion on natural STEC 0157 intestinal infection and hide contamination in small groups of confined Nebraska beef cattle from winter weaning until fall sale for slaughter (intervention trial).
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Diagnostic and molecular microbiology along with established entomologic and epidemiologic techniques will be used to determine the agroecologic inter-relationships between pest flies, cattle, and STEC and to measure effects of pest fly exclusion on STEC 0157 intestinal infection and hide contamination in pens of confined beef cattle from weaning until slaughter compared to fly-exposed cattle. This study will determine the propensity of pest filth flies to naturally harbor STEC, to transmit or amplify STEC on cattle farms, and to act as diagnostic markers of bovine STEC infections. Finally, this project will determine if pest fly control may be a rationale means to reduce STEC in live cattle.
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The behavior, abundance, distribution, and mobility of house flies, stable flies, and horn flies make them biologically plausible STEC 0157 vectors and reservoirs on dairy and beef cattle operations. This study will determine the propensity of pest filth flies to naturally harbor STEC, to transmit or amplify STEC on cattle farms, and to act as diagnostic markers of bovine STEC infections. Finally, this project will determine if pest fly control may be a rational means to reduce STEC in live cattle.