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ARS Home » Plains Area » Clay Center, Nebraska » U.S. Meat Animal Research Center » Meat Safety and Quality » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #267243
Title: Non-O157 Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli: prevalence associated with meat animals and controlling interventions

Author
item Kalchayanand, Norasak - Nor
item Arthur, Terrance
item Bosilevac, Joseph - Mick
item Wheeler, Tommy

Submitted to: American Meat Science Association Conference Reciprocal Proceedings
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/1/2011
Publication Date: 11/7/2012
Citation: Kalchayanand, N., Arthur, T.M., Bosilevac, J.M., Wheeler, T.L. 2012. Non-O157 Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli: prevalence associated with meat animals and controlling interventions. Proceedings of American Meat Science Association 64th Annual Reciprocal Meat Conference, June 19-22, 2011, Kansas State University, Manhattan Kansas. p.1-9.

Interpretive Summary: Non-O157 STEC are commonly associated with ruminants and found throughout processing steps during harvest. Although some non-O157 STEC may not be virulent, several strains have been found with the same serotypes and virulence genotypes as those determined to cause human disease. Many studies have demonstrated the effect of various intervention technologies on E. coli O157:H7, but there is a limited dataset to confirm similar effects on non-O157 STEC. While it is likely that non-O157 STEC will respond similarly to antimicrobial interventions, non-O157 STEC are comprised of many serotypes. Thus, they have the potential to present some variation in responses to the interventions and processes in place to control E. coli O157:H7 in commercial beef processing plants. Therefore, further evaluation of non-O157 STEC responses to interventions is needed.

Technical Abstract: This paper reviews the current state of knowledge of non-O157 STEC in products of meat animals. There is a wide range in pathogenicity of STEC strains. Potential regulation in meat products is currently focused on the group of six O groups the CDC indicates accounts of 71% of non-O157 STEC illnesses. Post-harvest interventions in place for control of O157:H7 are likely effective against non-O157 STECs, but more data is needed to verify these effects. Some pre-harvest interventions are more specific for O157:H7, such as vaccines and bacteriophages, and may not include cross-protection against non-O157 STECs. Further evaluation of the effectiveness of microbial interventions against non-O157 STECs should be conducted.