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ARS Home » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #115475
Title: PROBIOTICS AND QUARANTINE FOR PREHARVEST CONTROL OF ENTEROHEMORRHAGIC E. COLI (EHEC) O157:H7

Author
item Keen, James
item ELDER, ROBERT - FORMER ARS EMPLOYEE

Submitted to: Research Workers in Animal Diseases Conference Proceedings
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/11/2000
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Two field trials were completed to investigate if (A) short-term probiotic usage or (B) long-term quarantine and isolation of beef cattle would prevent and/or eliminate naturally-occurring EHEC O157 fecal shedding in feedlot beef cattle. In study A, two commercial probiotics (PB) were evaluated: PB1 contained four lactic acid bacteria at 300 million cfu/dose, ,while PB2 contained vitamins, minerals, yeast and four lactic acid bacteri at 1.5 billion cfu/dose. Finished feedlot cattle (n=99) in three pens were randomly assigned to PB1, PB2, or Control (no probiotic) groups, orally dosed on days 0 and 1, and fecal cultured for EHEC O157 on days 0 and 7. Day 0 to day 7 fecal prevalence by treatment group was: Control, 9/33 to 13/33 (12% increase); PB1, 12/33 to 15/33 (9% increase); PB2, 8/33 to 9/33 (3% increase). A multiple logistic regression model using individual animal fecal shedding status on day 7 as outcome and adjusting for a random pen effect and shedding status on day 0 showed no probiotic treatment effect versus controls. In study (B), 60 fecal EHEC O157-negative calves were weaned into 12 pens of 5 in an isolated poleshed, while 60 negative control steers were weaned into two standard feedlot pens. All 120 steers were fecal cultured for EHEC O157 at 6 week intervals from 2/99 to 11/99 and maintained on identical rations. Overall, 50 of 420 control fecal samples and 86 of 420 quarantine fecal samples were EHEC O157-positive. Peak fecal prevalence occurred in 8/99 when 59 of 60 quarantined calves and 27 of 60 control calves were EHEC O157-positive. We conclude that neither commercial probiotics nor isolation and quarantine are of likely utility for EHEC O157 control in fed beef cattle.