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Modeling On-Farm Escherichia Coli O157:H7 Population Dynamics, P Ayscue, Cristina Lanzas, R Ivanek, Y T. Grohn

Faculty Publications and Other Works -- Biomedical and Diagnostic Sciences

Escherichia coli O157:H7 is a potentially fatal foodborne pathogen with a putative reservoir for human infection in feedlot cattle. In order to more effectively identify targets for intervention strategies, we aimed to (1) assess the role of various feedlot habitats in E. coli O157:H7 propagation and (2) provide a framework for examining the relative contributions of animals and the surrounding environment to observed pathogen dynamics. To meet these goals we developed a mathematical model based on an ecological metapopulation framework to track bacterial population dynamics inside and outside the host. We used E. coli O157:H7 microbiological and epidemiological literature to …