

@article {8109,
	title = {{Concentration and prevalence of Escherichia coli O157 in cattle feces at slaughter}},
	journal = {Appl Environ Microbiol},
	volume = {69},
	number = {5},
	year = {2003},
	pages = {2444{\textendash}2447},
	edition = {2003/05/07},
	abstract = {The concentration and prevalence of Escherichia coli O157 in cattle feces at the time of slaughter was studied over a 9-week period from May to July 2002. Fecal samples (n = 589) were collected from the rectums of slaughtered cattle, and the animal-level prevalence rate was estimated to be 7.5{\%} (95{\%} confidence interval [CI], 5.4 to 9.6{\%}) while the group prevalence was 40.4{\%} (95{\%} CI, 27.7 to 53.2{\%}). Of the 44 infected animals detected, 9{\%} were high shedders that contained E. coli O157 at concentrations of {\textgreater}10(4) CFU g(-1). These 9{\%} represented {\textgreater}96{\%} of the total E. coli O157 produced by all animals tested. All isolates possessed the vt(2) gene, 39 had the eaeA gene, and a further five had the vt(1) gene also. The presence of high-shedding animals at the abattoir increases the potential risk of meat contamination during the slaughtering process and stresses the need for correctly implemented hazard analysis and critical control point procedures.},
	isbn = {0099-2240 (Print) 0099-2240 (Linking)},
	author = {Omisakin, F and MacRae, M and Ogden, I D and Strachan, N J}
}
