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Increased Concentrations Of Bovine Intestinal Mucus Encourage Growth Of Escherichia Coli O157:H7, J. Heidenreich, C. Aperce, James S. Drouillard

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Cattle have been implicated as carriers of the human pathogen Escherichia coli O157:H7. Contamination of the beef supply by E. coli O157 can occur during harvest and processing, causing costly recalls or human illness. Many interventions have been applied in attempts to prevent contamination of carcasses in processing plants, such as development of HACCP procedures, carcass washes, and steam pasteurization, but contaminations still occur. Mechanisms that allow E. coli O157:H7 to thrive in cattle at sporadic times and in such large numbers are poorly understood. Understanding factors that stimulate E. coli O157 growth in cattle will aid in identifying effective …