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ARS Home » Plains Area » College Station, Texas » Southern Plains Agricultural Research Center » Food and Feed Safety Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #217035
Title: Ecological concepts to reduce colonization of cattle by food-borne pathogens

Author
item Callaway, Todd
item Edrington, Thomas
item Anderson, Robin
item Krueger, Nathan
item Nisbet, David

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/5/2008
Publication Date: 1/10/2008
Citation: Callaway, T.R., Edrington, T.S., Anderson, R.C., Krueger, N.A., Nisbet, D.J. 2008. Ecological concepts to reduce colonization of cattle by food-borne pathogens [abstract]. Proceedings of University of Guadalajara and Mexican Association for Food Protection, International Food Safety Congress Meeting, November 8-10, 2007, Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, Mexico. 9:43.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Annually, food-borne pathogenic bacteria sicken millions across North America. Many of these illnesses are caused by consumption of animal-produced foods, especially those from cattle. Post slaughter intervention strategies effectively reduce bacterial contamination levels that reach consumers from the abattoir. However, in spite of these strategies, many food-borne illnesses and deaths still occur. Therefore, if we can include preharvest intervention strategies into current animal production practices we may further reduce the incidence of pathogen contamination of meats and resultant human illnesses. A broad range of preslaughter intervention strategies currently under investigation will be discussed. These include: vaccination, competitive exclusion, specifically-adapted competitive exclusion, the use of probiotics and prebiotics (e.g., fructooligosaccharides), bacteriophage to specifically target certain pathogenic bacteria, the exploitation of the physiology of specific pathogens, as well as diet manipulation. Additionally, antibiotic use to reduce pathogens will be discussed, specifically addressing possible risks incurred by their use. The simultaneous application of one or more of these strategies has the potential to synergistically reduce the incidence of human food-borne illnesses by erecting multiple hurdles against entry of pathogens into the food chain.