Longitudinal Characterization Of Prevalence And Concentration Of Shiga Toxin-Producing Escherichia Coli Serogroups In Feces Of Individual Feedlot Cattle

The objective of this study was to quantify the frequency, distribution, and variability of fecal shedding and super-shedding of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) serogroups O26, O45, O103, O111, O121, O145, and O157 in feedlot cattle over time. A total of 750 fecal grab samples were collected over a 5-week period (June-July 2017) from 150 cattle housed in 10 pens at a commercial feedlot operation. Samples were subjected to culture-based methods and real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction for STEC detection and quantification. Cumulative animal-level prevalence estimates were 9.5%, 5.2%, and 15.8% for STEC O157, non-O157 STEC serogroups only (STEC-6), and for all STEC serogroups tested (STEC-7), respectively, with the prevalence of STEC O157 and STEC-7 significantly differing between weeks (p < 0.01). Most of the variability in fecal shedding for STEC O157, STEC-6, and STEC-7 was between pens, rather than between cattle. Over the 5-week period, 10 animals (6.7%) persistently shed STEC non-O157 over 3 or more consecutive weeks, whereas 2 animals (1.3%) intermittently shed STEC non-O157 on nonconsecutive weeks. Fifteen animals (10.0%) shed multiple STEC serogroups within the same fecal sample and five animals (3.3%) shed multiple serogroups at super-shedding levels, higher than 10(4) CFU (colony-forming units)/g, in the same sample. The presence of a super-shedder in a pen was significantly associated with a greater within pen-level prevalence of STEC-6 (p = 0.01). This study gives further insights into intermittent and persistent shedding and super-shedding patterns of STEC serogroups in individual feedlot cattle, which can enable the development and effective application of preharvest and periharvest interventions, as well as surveillance strategies, for these pathogens.