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ARS Home » Plains Area » Lubbock, Texas » Cropping Systems Research Laboratory » Livestock Issues Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #421931
Research Project: Environmental and Management Influences on Animal Productivity and Well-Being Phenotypes

Location: Livestock Issues Research

Title: Longitudinal assessment of the prevalence of Fusobacterium necrophorum, Fusobacterium varium, and Salmonella enterica throughout the gastrointestinal tract in finishing beef steers with and without liver abscesses

Author
item DONRBACH, COLTON - Texas Tech University
item Broadway, Paul
item Wells, James
item CHILDRESS, KALLIE - Texas Tech University
item THOMPSON-SMITH, AUBREY - Texas Tech University
item Sanchez, Nicole
item MATHIEU, JACQUE - Rice University
item SCHWARZ, CORY - Rice University
item LAVERDE-GOMEZ, JENNY - Sentinel Environmental
item TIKHONOVA, MARINA - Sentinel Environmental
item NAGARAJA, T - Kansas State University
item GALYEAN, MICHAEL - Texas Tech University
item HALES, KRISTIN - Texas Tech University

Submitted to: Frontiers in Microbiology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/7/2025
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: Liver abscesses in beef cattle are a significant concern for the beef industry. It is estimated the economic burden of liver abscesses is greater than $1 billion. Liver abscesses are complex and involve several bacteria. A study was conducted by ARS Scientists and university and industry partners to assess the prevalence of bacteria common to liver abscesses. Nasal, rumen fluid, and fecal samples were collected at three time points from arrival to harvest. Fusobacterium and Salmonella were prevalent throughout the gastrointestinal tract and affected by time, but their prevalence and abundance were not indicative of liver abscess formation. These data will be of interest to scientists studying liver abscess in cattle as well as beef producers.

Technical Abstract: We conducted a longitudinal assessment of the prevalence of F. necrophorum subsp. necrophorum, subsp. funduliforme, F. varium, and Salmonella enterica throughout the gastrointestinal tract in finishing beef steers with and without liver abscesses. Crossbred steers (n = 227; 353 ± 39 kg) were transported to a feedlot and fed a high-concentrate diet. Nasal, ruminal fluid, and fecal samples were aseptically collected following feedlot arrival (d 5), one week after adaptation to a finishing diet (d 35), and the day before harvest (study end). Livers were collected at harvest, and cattle were assigned into either control or liver abscess groups based on liver abscess prevalence. Overall LA prevalence was 18.7%. The concentration and prevalence of Salmonella decreased in ruminal fluid and increased in feces with days on feed (P < 0.01). Conversely, ruminal fluid prevalence of subsp. necrophorum and F. varium increased with days on feed (P < 0.01). Fusobacterial abundance in ruminal fluid and feces was not indicative of LA development except for F. varium being more abundant in the ruminal fluid of steers with LA (P < 0.01). Abundance of subsp. necrophorum was greater in abscessed tissue than healthy (P = 0.03), although no other differences in bacterial abundance or prevalence were observed in livers. Fusobacterium and Salmonella were prevalent throughout the gastrointestinal tract and affected by days on feed, but their prevalence and abundance were not indicative of LA formation. Bovine liver abscesses are a polymicrobial infection with an unresolved etiology. This study provides a novel longitudinal assessment throughout the gastrointestinal tract of finishing beef cattle of the bacterial populations known or suspected to be involved in liver abscess formation.