Publications by authors named "Robert Stilborn"
Article Synopsis
- The study analyzed the prevalence and risk factors of E. coli O157:H7 in feedlot pens before slaughter by examining 84 pens with nearly 27,000 cattle in Alberta from 2003 to 2004.
- Sampling methods identified that 48% of the pens had a high prevalence of E. coli, with fecal contamination varying significantly among the pens.
- Environmental factors like weather and pen conditions impacted E. coli levels, and while fecal and hide contamination are key indicators of food safety risk, alternative methods like ROPES offered practical advantages for risk classification.
Appl Environ Microbiol
March 2007
Article Synopsis
- A study observed feedlot cattle for the presence of Escherichia coli O157:H7, focusing on its colonization at the rectoanal junction (RAJ) and fecal excretion to find "supershedder" cattle which excrete high levels of the bacteria.
- Results showed that RAJ samples had significantly higher counts of E. coli O157:H7 compared to fecal samples, indicating that the RAJ is preferentially colonized by this harmful serotype.
- The identification of five supershedders revealed they contributed to greater E. coli O157:H7 levels in their group, suggesting their presence affects overall infection rates and can guide food safety interventions before slaughter.
Article Synopsis
- Effective preharvest measures for controlling E. coli O157:H7 in cattle can lower human disease rates associated with this bacteria.
- A study compared the prevalence and levels of E. coli O157:H7 in feces from cattle fed barley and corn, finding higher rates in barley-fed cattle (2.4% vs. 1.3%) and greater fecal excretion levels.
- Additionally, corn-fed cattle exhibited lower fecal pH and higher total generic E. coli concentrations compared to barley-fed cattle, indicating that specific feed types influence E. coli O157:H7 dynamics.
