An examination of risk factors associated with beef cattle shedding pathogens of potential zoonotic concern

B. R. HOAR; E. R. ATWILL; C. ELMI; T. B. FARVER

doi:10.1017/S0950268801005726

Abstract

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.

The prevalence of three waterborne zoonotic pathogens (Campylobacter sp., Giardia sp. and Cryptosporidium parvum) in rectal faecal samples from a random sample of adult beef cattle was determined. Management factors that may be associated with shedding of these organisms were examined. For Campylobacter sp. prevalence was 5·0%, and the number of females on the farm was positively associated with the proportion that tested positive. For Giardia sp. prevalence was 6·5%, and none of the management factors examined was significantly associated with the proportion in a herd testing positive. C. parvum was identified in 1·1% of samples. The length of calving season and whether any procedures were performed on the calves in the first 2 days of life were positively associated with the proportion that tested positive. We conclude that this sample of adult beef cattle represent a relatively limited threat to water supplies and subsequent disease transmission to humans from these pathogens.

Crossref Citations

This article has been cited by the following publications. This list is generated based on data provided by Crossref.

Nielsen, E.M. 2002. Occurrence and strain diversity of thermophilic campylobacters in cattle of different age groups in dairy herds. Letters in Applied Microbiology, Vol. 35, Issue. 1, p. 85.

Evans, Meirion R. Ribeiro, C. Donald and Salmon, Roland L. 2003. Hazards of Healthy Living: Bottled Water and Salad Vegetables as Risk Factors for Campylobacter Infection. Emerging Infectious Diseases, Vol. 9, Issue. 10, p. 1219.

Atwill, E. R. and Pereira, Mdas G C. 2003. Lack of Detectable Shedding of Cryptosporidium parvum Oocysts by Periparturient Dairy Cattle. Journal of Parasitology, Vol. 89, Issue. 6, p. 1234.

Stanley, K. and Jones, K. 2003. Cattle and sheep farms as reservoirs ofCampylobacter. Journal of Applied Microbiology, Vol. 94, Issue. , p. 104.

Altekruse, Sean F. and Tollefson, Linda K. 2003. Human campylobacteriosis: a challenge for the veterinary profession. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, Vol. 223, Issue. 4, p. 445.

Appelbee, A.J. Frederick, L.M. Heitman, T.L. and Olson, M.E. 2003. Prevalence and genotyping of Giardia duodenalis from beef calves in Alberta, Canada. Veterinary Parasitology, Vol. 112, Issue. 4, p. 289.

Newell, Diane G. and Davison, Helen C. 2003. Microbial Food Safety in Animal Agriculture. p. 211.

Clark, Clifford G. Price, Lawrence Ahmed, Rafiq Woodward, David L. Melito, Pasquale L. Rodgers, Frank G. Jamieson, Frances Ciebin, Bruce Li, Aimin and Ellis, Andrea 2003. Characterization of Waterborne Outbreak–associatedCampylobacter jejuni, Walkerton, Ontario. Emerging Infectious Diseases, Vol. 9, Issue. 10, p. 1232.

Kaneene, Joh N. B. and Potter, Rachel Church 2003. Microbial Food Safety in Animal Agriculture. p. 175.

Becher, K.A Robertson, I.D Fraser, D.M Palmer, D.G and Thompson, R.C.A 2004. Molecular epidemiology of Giardia and Cryptosporidium infections in dairy calves originating from three sources in Western Australia. Veterinary Parasitology, Vol. 123, Issue. 1-2, p. 1.

Thompson, R.C.A. and Monis, P.T. 2004. Vol. 58, Issue. , p. 69.

CrossRef

Thompson, R.C. Andrew 2004. The zoonotic significance and molecular epidemiology of Giardia and giardiasis. Veterinary Parasitology, Vol. 126, Issue. 1-2, p. 15.

Thompson, R C Andrew 2004. The Pathogenic Enteric Protozoa: Giardia, Entamoeba, Cryptosporidium and Cyclospora. Vol. 8, Issue. , p. 1.

Ramirez, Norma E Ward, Lucy A and Sreevatsan, Srinand 2004. A review of the biology and epidemiology of cryptosporidiosis in humans and animals. Microbes and Infection, Vol. 6, Issue. 8, p. 773.

Cacciò, Simone M. Thompson, R.C. Andrew McLauchlin, Jim and Smith, Huw V. 2005. Unravelling Cryptosporidium and Giardia epidemiology. Trends in Parasitology, Vol. 21, Issue. 9, p. 430.

Grinberg, A Pomroy, WE Weston, JF Ayanegui-Alcerreca, A and Knight, D 2005. The occurrence of Cryptosporidium parvum, Campylobacter and Salmonella in newborn dairy calves in the Manawatu region of New Zealand. New Zealand Veterinary Journal, Vol. 53, Issue. 5, p. 315.

Moriarty, E. M. McEvoy, J.M. Sheridan, J. J. Duffy, G. Lowery, C. J. Thompson, H. P. Finn, M. Blair, I. S. and McDowell, D. A. 2005. Prevalence and characterisation ofCryptosporidiumspecies in cattle faeces and on beef carcases at slaughter. Veterinary Record, Vol. 156, Issue. 6, p. 165.

Geurden, T. Goma, F.Y. Siwila, J. Phiri, I.G.K. Mwanza, A.M. Gabriel, S. Claerebout, E. and Vercruysse, J. 2006. Prevalence and genotyping of Cryptosporidium in three cattle husbandry systems in Zambia. Veterinary Parasitology, Vol. 138, Issue. 3-4, p. 217.

Altekruse, Sean F. and Perez-Perez, Guillermo I. 2006. Foodborne Infections and Intoxications. p. 259.

Gow, Sheryl and Waldner, Cheryl 2006. An examination of the prevalence of and risk factors for shedding of Cryptosporidium spp. and Giardia spp. in cows and calves from western Canadian cow–calf herds. Veterinary Parasitology, Vol. 137, Issue. 1-2, p. 50.

Download full list

Article contents

An examination of risk factors associated with beef cattle shedding pathogens of potential zoonotic concern

Abstract

Save article to Kindle

Save article to Dropbox

Save article to Google Drive

Reply to: Submit a response

Your details

You have entered the maximum number of contributors

Conflicting interests