Comparison of rectoanal mucosal swab cultures and fecal cultures for determining prevalence of Escherichia coli O157:H7 in feedlot cattle

Appl Environ Microbiol. 2005 Oct;71(10):6431-3. doi: 10.1128/AEM.71.10.6431-6433.2005.

Abstract

We compared fecal samples with samples collected with rectoanal mucosa swabs (RAMS) to determine the prevalence of Escherichia coli O157 in feedlot cattle (n = 747). Escherichia coli O157 was detected in 9.5% of samples collected with RAMS and 4.7% of samples tested by fecal culture. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis analysis of isolates suggested that the strains colonizing the rectoanal junction were the same as those from the feces. Mucosal swab sampling was more sensitive than fecal sampling for determining the prevalence of E. coli O157 in feedlot cattle.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Evaluation Study
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Anal Canal / microbiology
  • Animal Feed / microbiology*
  • Animals
  • Cattle
  • Cattle Diseases / epidemiology*
  • Cattle Diseases / microbiology
  • Electrophoresis, Gel, Pulsed-Field
  • Escherichia coli Infections / epidemiology
  • Escherichia coli Infections / microbiology
  • Escherichia coli Infections / veterinary*
  • Escherichia coli O157 / classification
  • Escherichia coli O157 / genetics
  • Escherichia coli O157 / isolation & purification*
  • Feces / microbiology
  • Intestinal Mucosa / microbiology
  • Male
  • Prevalence
  • Rectum / microbiology
  • Specimen Handling / methods
  • Specimen Handling / veterinary*