Cattle Feedlot Soil Moisture and Manure Content: II. Impact on Escherichia coli O157

Abstract

The moisture and manure contents of soils at cattle feedlot surfaces vary spatiotemporally and likely are important factors in the persistence of Escherichia coli O157 in these soils. The impacts of water content (0.11-1.50 g H2O g(-1) dry feedlot surface material [FSM]) and manure level (5, 25, and 75% dry manure in dry FSM) on E. coli O157:H7 in feedlot soils were evaluated. Generally, E. coli O157:H7 numbers either persisted or increased at all but the lowest moisture levels examined. Manure content modulated the effect of water on E. coli growth; for example, at water content of 0.43 g H2O g(-1) dry FSM and 25% manure, E. coli O157:H7 increased by 2 log10 colony forming units (CFU) g(-1) dry FSM in 3 d, while at 0.43 g H2O g(-1) dry FSM and 75% manure, populations remained stable over 14 d. Escherichia coli and coliform populations responded similarly. In a second study, the impacts of cycling moisture levels and different drying rates on naturally occurring E. coli O157 in feedlot soils were examined. Low initial levels of E. coli O157 were reduced to below enumerable levels by 21 d, but indigenous E. coli populations persisted at >2.50 log10 CFU g(-1) dry FSM up to 133 d. We conclude that E. coli O157 can persist and may even grow in feedlot soils, over a wide range of water and manure contents. Further investigations are needed to determine if these variables can be manipulated to reduce this pathogen in cattle and the feedlot environment.

Sawdust and bark to treat nitrogen and faecal bacteria in winter stand‐off pads on a dairy farm

“…Six months after pad use ceased the E. coli counts had dropped by only about an order of magnitude (Table 3). it has been reported that moisture is the most important factor determining bacterial survival (Berry & Miller 2005) which may explain the continued survival. our results suggest that sufficient time should be allowed for pathogens to die-off to low levels prior to land disposal of spent pad materials.…”

“…unlike E. coli, Campylobacter species do not survive well in the environment (Park 2002) and their presence reflects quite recent inputs of contamination. Studies have shown that enteric pathogens decline in stored manures (Hutchison et al 2004b) but that they are seldom completely eliminated , with moisture content being an important factor controlling survival (Berry & Miller 2005). …”

Drying of Poultry Manure for Use as Animal Feed

“…Flies and other undesirable insects can breed on the manure leading to the health hazards and nuisances associated with them (Lay et al, 2011;Axtell, 1999). Manure is also a source of odor caused by the activity of anaerobic microorganisms in the manure (Berry and Miller, 2005;Fares et al, 2005). It is, therefore, necessary to subject poultry manure to some treatments in order to improve its storage and handling properties and to minimize the risk of disease transmission and environmental pollution.…”

Stability of Antibiotic Resistance Patterns in Agricultural Pastures: Lessons from Kentucky, USA

“…Several studies have reported that moisture levels play a primary role in determining bacterial growth and duration, while temperature was a secondary factor (Berry and Miller, 2005;Collins, 2004;Sinton et al, 2007;Stoddard et al, 1998;Unc and Goss, 2003). Soil physicochemical characteristics including soil type, structure, depth to water tables, and bedrock, i.e.…”