Over a period of 11 years, 33 sheep or goat holdings lost their maedi-visna or caprine arthritis-encephalitis accredited status (mean 2 8 per year [0 09 per cent] of the accredited holdings in Great Britain) Of these, 22 sheep flocks and two goat herds eradicated the infection and regained their accredited status In addition, 10 sheep flocks and two goat herds managed to eradicate infection, having joined the scheme with infected animals In flocks and herds with a high initial prevalence of infection, the adoption of an indirect ELISA, with greater sensitivity than the agar gel immunodiffusion test, improved success rates A strategy was devised to interpret the ELISA results depending upon the prevalence of infection at the time Eighteen of the 33 flocks/herds (54 5 per cent) that had introductions of infection also owned non-accredited stock

The prevalence of verocytotoxin-producing Escherichia coli (VTEC) O157 in 12-30-month-old beef finishing cattle in Scotland was determined using I g faeces samples enriched in buffered peptone water, followed by immunomagnetic separation (IMS) and isolation on sorbitol MacConkey agar with cefixime and tellurite supplement (CT-SMAC). A validated questionnaire was used to collect information that could be associated with the samples. Generalised Linear Models and Generalised Linear Mixed Models were used to identify factors associated with shedding both between and within groups.A total of 14,856 samples were collected from 952 farms, of which 1231 were positive for VTEC O157. Prevalence levels were calculated with 95% confidence intervals as follows: 7.9% (6.5%, 9.6%) of animals sampled were estimated to be shedding VTEC O157, while 22.8% (19.6%, 26.3%) of farms were estimated as having at least one animal shedding in the group sampled. The median percentage of animals shedding in positive groups was 25% (20%, 32%).An increased probability of a group containing a shedding animal was associated with larger numbers of finishing cattle, the presence of pigs on the farm, or the farm being classed as a dairy unit stocking beef animals. Farms that spread slurry on grazing land were more likely to have shedding animals, while those that spread manure were at lower risk. Groups with older animals were less likely to be identified as positive. There was no significant regional difference in group shedding probabilities, but the proportion of positive groups dropped over two successive years of the study. Higher mean levels of shedding in positive groups were associated with animals being housed rather than at pasture, and this effect was stronger in groups which had recently had a change in housing or diet. Farms with animals at pasture had lower mean prevalence where water was supplied from a natural source, as had farms with higher numbers of finishing cattle. There remained unexplained variability in mean prevalence levels on positive farms in different areas of Scotland. (C) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

ABSTRACT Composite wild bird feces collected at regular intervals from a garden feeding station in southwest Scotland over a 3-year period were examined for verocytotoxin-producing Escherichia coli O157. One sample was positive for Escherichia coli O157. The isolate belonged to phage type 21/28 and possessed vtx 2 , eaeA , and enterohemorrhagic E. coli hlyA genes.

ABSTRACT The distribution of Escherichia coli O157 in bovine feces was examined by testing multiple samples from fecal pats and determining the density of E. coli O157 in immunomagnetic separation (IMS)-positive fecal samples. The density of E. coli O157 in bovine feces was highly variable, differing by as much as 76,800 CFU g −1 between samples from the same fecal pat. The density in most positive samples was <100 CFU g −1 , the limit of reliable detection by IMS. Testing only one 1-g sample of feces per pat with IMS may result in a sensitivity of detection as low as 20 to 50%. It is therefore probable that most surveys have greatly underestimated the prevalence of E. coli O157 shedding in cattle and the proportion of farms with shedding cattle. The sensitivity of the detection of E. coli O157 in bovine feces can be as much as doubled by testing two 1-g samples per pat rather than one 1-g sample.

A study was designed to investigate management factors that might influence the shedding of verocytotoxin-producing Escherichia coli (VTEC) O157 by beef cows in Scotland, where there is a particularly high rate of human infection. Thirty-two herds were visited at least monthly over approximately 1 year for collection of fresh faecal pat samples and information on management factors. The faecal pat samples were tested for VTEC O157 by established culture and immunomagnetic separation methods. Questionnaires were completed at the monthly visits to record management factors. Data were analysed using both univariate and multi-factor (GLMM) analysis. Changes in the number of cows in a group, dogs, wild geese, housing, and the feeding of draff (distillers' grains) were statistically significant as risk factors. The event of calving appeared to reduce the likelihood of shedding. Any effects of weaning or turnout were not statistically significant. It appears that the rate of shedding of VTEC O157 is influenced by several factors but possibly the most important of these are the circumstances of animals being housed, or, when outside, the presence of wild geese.

AIMS:To compare the sensitivity of two pre-enrichment broth media prior to immunomagnetic separation for the isolation of Escherichia coli O157 from cattle faeces.METHODS AND RESULTS:One-gram portions of 721 cattle faeces collected from 43 farms were pre-enriched in buffered peptone water containing vancomycin, cefixime and cefsulodin (BPW-VCC) and buffered peptone water without additives (BPW-WOA), respectively. A total of 137 samples were positive for E. coli O157: 127 pre-enriched with BPW-WOA and 89 pre-enriched in BPW-VCC. Representative isolates were tested for phage type, verotoxin and eae (E. coli attaching and effacing) gene sequences, resulting in the recognition of eight different types. All the E. coli O157 types recognized were isolated by both methods except for three different strains, each of which were isolated only on a single occasion: two by BPW-WOA and another by BPW-VCC.CONCLUSIONS:The results clearly demonstrate, under the conditions of this study, that BPW without antibiotics was the superior pre-enrichment medium for the isolation of E. coli O157 from cattle faeces.SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY:The use of BPW-WOA in preference to BPW-VCC for the isolation of E. coli O157 from cattle faeces in future research and outbreak studies should lead to a higher number of positive isolates.

Veterinary RecordVolume 151, Issue 2 p. 58-60 Short Communications Verocytotoxin-producing Escherichia coli (VTEC) other than serogroup 0157 from Scottish cattle C. Jenkins PhD, C. Jenkins PhD Laboratory of Enteric Pathogens, Central Public Health Authority, 61 Colindale Avenue, London, NW9 5HTSearch for more papers by this authorH. Chart PhD, H. Chart PhD Laboratory of Enteric Pathogens, Central Public Health Authority, 61 Colindale Avenue, London, NW9 5HTSearch for more papers by this authorT. Cheasty BSc, FIBMS, T. Cheasty BSc, FIBMS Laboratory of Enteric Pathogens, Central Public Health Authority, 61 Colindale Avenue, London, NW9 5HTSearch for more papers by this authorG. A. Willshaw PhD, G. A. Willshaw PhD Laboratory of Enteric Pathogens, Central Public Health Authority, 61 Colindale Avenue, London, NW9 5HTSearch for more papers by this authorH. R. Smith PhD, H. R. Smith PhD Laboratory of Enteric Pathogens, Central Public Health Authority, 61 Colindale Avenue, London, NW9 5HTSearch for more papers by this authorG. Dougan PhD, G. Dougan PhD Department of Biochemistry, Imperial College, London, SW7 2AZSearch for more papers by this authorG. Frankel PhD, G. Frankel PhD Department of Biochemistry, Imperial College, London, SW7 2AZSearch for more papers by this authorM. C. Pearce BVSc, MSc, M. C. Pearce BVSc, MSc Epidemiology Unit, SAC VSD, Drummondhill, Stratherrick Road, Inverness, IV2 4JZSearch for more papers by this authorG. Foster FIBMS, G. Foster FIBMS Epidemiology Unit, SAC VSD, Drummondhill, Stratherrick Road, Inverness, IV2 4JZSearch for more papers by this authorG. J. Gunn BVMS, MSc, MRCVS, G. J. Gunn BVMS, MSc, MRCVS Epidemiology Unit, SAC VSD, Drummondhill, Stratherrick Road, Inverness, IV2 4JZSearch for more papers by this authorB. A. Synge BVM&S, MPhil, MRCVS, B. A. Synge BVM&S, MPhil, MRCVS Epidemiology Unit, SAC VSD, Drummondhill, Stratherrick Road, Inverness, IV2 4JZSearch for more papers by this author C. Jenkins PhD, C. Jenkins PhD Laboratory of Enteric Pathogens, Central Public Health Authority, 61 Colindale Avenue, London, NW9 5HTSearch for more papers by this authorH. Chart PhD, H. Chart PhD Laboratory of Enteric Pathogens, Central Public Health Authority, 61 Colindale Avenue, London, NW9 5HTSearch for more papers by this authorT. Cheasty BSc, FIBMS, T. Cheasty BSc, FIBMS Laboratory of Enteric Pathogens, Central Public Health Authority, 61 Colindale Avenue, London, NW9 5HTSearch for more papers by this authorG. A. Willshaw PhD, G. A. Willshaw PhD Laboratory of Enteric Pathogens, Central Public Health Authority, 61 Colindale Avenue, London, NW9 5HTSearch for more papers by this authorH. R. Smith PhD, H. R. Smith PhD Laboratory of Enteric Pathogens, Central Public Health Authority, 61 Colindale Avenue, London, NW9 5HTSearch for more papers by this authorG. Dougan PhD, G. Dougan PhD Department of Biochemistry, Imperial College, London, SW7 2AZSearch for more papers by this authorG. Frankel PhD, G. Frankel PhD Department of Biochemistry, Imperial College, London, SW7 2AZSearch for more papers by this authorM. C. Pearce BVSc, MSc, M. C. Pearce BVSc, MSc Epidemiology Unit, SAC VSD, Drummondhill, Stratherrick Road, Inverness, IV2 4JZSearch for more papers by this authorG. Foster FIBMS, G. Foster FIBMS Epidemiology Unit, SAC VSD, Drummondhill, Stratherrick Road, Inverness, IV2 4JZSearch for more papers by this authorG. J. Gunn BVMS, MSc, MRCVS, G. J. Gunn BVMS, MSc, MRCVS Epidemiology Unit, SAC VSD, Drummondhill, Stratherrick Road, Inverness, IV2 4JZSearch for more papers by this authorB. A. Synge BVM&S, MPhil, MRCVS, B. A. Synge BVM&S, MPhil, MRCVS Epidemiology Unit, SAC VSD, Drummondhill, Stratherrick Road, Inverness, IV2 4JZSearch for more papers by this author First published: 13 July 2002 https://doi.org/10.1136/vr.151.2.58Citations: 8 Correspondence to Dr Frankel Read the full textAboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onEmailFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditWechat No abstract is available for this article. References ANON (1995) Outbreak of acute gastroenteritis attributable to Escherichia coli serotype O104:H21 - Helena, Montana. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report 44, 501–503 PubMedGoogle Scholar ANON (1998) Zoonotic non-O157 shiga-toxin producing Escherichia coli (STEC). World Health Organization report number WHO/EMC/ZDI/98.8 Google Scholar ANON (2000) Guidelines for the control of infection with verocytotoxin producing Escherichia coli (VTEC). (PHLS Advisory Committee Report.) Communicable Disease and Public Health 3, 14–23 Google Scholar ADU-BOBIE, J., FRANKEL, G., BAIN, C., GONCLAVES, A. G., TRABULSI, L. R., DOUCE, G., KNUTTON, S. & DOUGAN, G. (1998) Detection of intimins alpha, beta, gamma, and delta, four intimin derivatives expressed by attaching and effacing microbial pathogens. Journal of Clinical Microbiology 36, 662–668 10.1128/JCM.36.3.662-668.1998 CASPubMedWeb of Science®Google Scholar BARRETT, T. J., LIOR, H., GREEN, J. H., KHAKHRIA, R., WELLS, J. G., BELL, B. P., GREENE, K. D., LEWIS, J. & GRIFFIN, P. M. (1994) Laboratory investigation of a multistate food-borne outbreak of Escherichia coli O157:H7 by using pulsed field gel electrophoresis and phage typing. Journal of Clinical Microbiology 32, 3013–3017 CASPubMedWeb of Science®Google Scholar BEUTIN, L., GEIGER, D., STEINRUCK, H., ZIMMERMANN, S. & SCHEUTZ, F. (1993) Prevalence and some properties of verotoxin (Shiga-like toxin)-producing Escherichia coli in seven different species of healthy domestic animals. Journal of Clinical Microbiology 31, 2483–2488 10.1128/JCM.31.9.2483-2488.1993 CASPubMedWeb of Science®Google Scholar CHAPMAN, P. A., SIDDONS, C. A., WRIGHT, D. J., NORMAN, P., FOX, J. & CRICK, E. (1993) Cattle as a possible source of verocytotoxin-producing Escherichia coli O157 infections in man. Epidemiology and Infection 11, 439–447 Google Scholar DONNENBERG, M. S., TZIPORI, S., MCKEE, M. L., O'BRIEN, A. D., ALROY, J. & KAPER, J. B. (1993) The role of the eae gene of enterohaemorrhagic Escherichia coli in intimate attachment in vitro and in a porcine model. Journal of Clinical Investigation 92, 1418–1424 10.1172/JCI116718 CASPubMedWeb of Science®Google Scholar FRANKEL, G., PHILLIPS, A., ROSENSHINE, I., DOUGAN, G., KAPER, J. & KNUTTON, S. (1998) Enteropathogenic and enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli: more subversive elements. Molecular Microbiology 30, 911–921 10.1046/j.1365-2958.1998.01144.x CASPubMedWeb of Science®Google Scholar GRIFFIN, P. M. (1995) Escherichia coli O157:H7 and other enterohaemorrhagic Escherichia coli. In Infections of the Gastrointestinal Tract. Eds M. J. Blaser, P. D. Smith, J. I. Rardin, H. B. Greenberg, R. L. Guerrant. New York, Raven Press. pp 739–761 Google Scholar GROSS, R. J. & ROWE, B. (1985) Serotyping of Escherichia coli. In The Virulence of Escherichia coli. Ed M. Sussman. Cambridge, Cambridge University Press. pp 345–360 Google Scholar KARMALI, M. (1989) Infection by verocytotoxin-producing Escherichia coli. Clinical Microbiology Reviews 2, 15–38 10.1128/CMR.2.1.15 CASPubMedWeb of Science®Google Scholar KOBAYASHI, H., SHIMADA, J., NAKAZAWA, M., MOROZUMI, T., POHJANVIRTA, T., PELKONEN, S. & YAMAMOTO, K. (2001) Prevalence and characteristics of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli from healthy cattle in Japan. Applied and Environmental Microbiology 67, 484–489 10.1128/AEM.67.1.484-489.2001 CASPubMedWeb of Science®Google Scholar MELTON-CELSA, A. & O'BRIEN, A. (1998) Structure, biology and relative toxicity of Shiga toxin family members for cells and animals. In Escherichia coli and Other Shiga Toxin-Producing Strains. Eds J. Kaper, A. O'BRIEN. Washington DC, American Society for Microbiology, pp 121–128 Google Scholar OSWALD, E., SCHMIDT, H., MORABITO, S., KARCH, H., MARCHES, O. & CAPRIOLI, A. (2000) Typing of intimin genes in human and animal enterohemorrhagic and enteropathogenic Escherichia coli: characterisation of a new intimin variant. Infection and Immunity 68, 64–71 10.1128/IAI.68.1.64-71.2000 CASPubMedWeb of Science®Google Scholar SCHMIDT, H., BEUTIN, L. & KARCH, H. (1995) Molecular analysis of the plasmid encoded haemolysin E coli O157:H7 strain EDL 933. Infection and Immunity 63, 1055–1061 10.1128/IAI.63.3.1055-1061.1995 CASPubMedWeb of Science®Google Scholar SCHMIDT, H., GEITZ, C., TARR, P., FROSCH, M. & KARCH, H. (1999) Non-O157:H7 pathogenic Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli: phenotypic and genetic profiling of virulence traits and evidence of clonality. Journal of Infectious Diseases 179, 115–123 10.1086/314537 CASPubMedWeb of Science®Google Scholar SYNGE, B. A. & PAIBA, G. (2000) Veroctyotoxin-producing E coli. Veterinary Record 147, 27 CASPubMedWeb of Science®Google Scholar SYNGE, B. A., TERNENT, H., HOPKINS, G. F., GRAHAM, D., KNIGHT, H. I., FOSTER, G., EDGE, V. L. & GUNN, G. (1998) A comparison of buffered peptone water with and without antibiotics for the isolation of E coli O157 from bovine faeces using immunomagnetic separation. Methods for Verocytotoxigenic E coli. Verocytotoxigenic E coli in Europe Concerted Action Group CT98-3935. p 17 Google Scholar THOMAS, A., SMITH, H. R., WILLSHAW, G. A. & ROWE, B. (1991) Nonradioactively labelled polynucleotide and oligonucleotide DNA probes, for selectively detecting Escherichia coli strains producing vero cytotoxins VT1, VT2 and VT2 variant. Molecular and Cellular Probes 5, 129–135 10.1016/0890-8508(91)90007-7 CASPubMedWeb of Science®Google Scholar WILLSHAW, G. A., CHEASTY, T., JIGGLE, B., ROWE, B., GIBBONS, D. & HUTCHINSON, D. N. (1993) Vero-cytotoxin-producing Escherichia coli in a herd of dairy cattle. Veterinary Record 132, 96 10.1136/vr.132.4.96 CASPubMedWeb of Science®Google Scholar WILLSHAW, G. A., CHEASTY, T., SMITH, H. R., O'BRIEN, S. J. & ADAK, G. K. (2001) Vero cytotoxin-producing Escherichia coli (VTEC) Ol57 and other VTEC from human infections in England and Wales: 1995 to 1998. Journal of Medical Microbiology 49, 1–8 Google Scholar WILLSHAW, G. A., SCOTLAND, S. M., SMITH, H. R. & ROWE, B. (1992) Properties of verocytotoxin-producing Escherichia coli of human origin of O-serogroups other than O157. Journal of Infectious Diseases 166, 797–802 10.1093/infdis/166.4.797 CASPubMedWeb of Science®Google Scholar Citing Literature Volume151, Issue2July 2002Pages 58-60 ReferencesRelatedInformation

AIMS:Strains of Verocytotoxin-producing Escherichia coli (VTEC) from Scottish beef cattle on the same farm were isolated during four visits over a period of eight months. Characteristics of these strains were examined to allow comparisons with strains of VTEC associated with human infection. METHODS AND RESULTS:Strains were characterized to investigate the relationship between these bovine isolates with respect to serotype, Verocytotoxin (VT) type, intimin-type, and presence or absence of the enterohaemolysin genes. VT genes were detected in 176 of 710 (25%) faecal samples tested using PCR, although only 94 (13%) VTEC strains were isolated using DNA probes on cultures. Forty-five different serotypes were detected. Commonly isolated serotypes included O128ab:H8, O26:H11 and O113:H21. VTEC O26:H11 and O113:H21 have been associated with human disease. Strains harbouring the VT2 genes were most frequently isolated during the first three visits to the farm and those with both VT1 and VT2 genes were the major type during the final visit. Of the 94 strains of non-O157 VTEC isolated, 16 (17%) had the intimin gene; nine had the gene encoding beta-intimin and seven strains had an eta/zeta-intimin gene. Forty-one (44%) of 94 strains carried enterohaemolysin genes. CONCLUSIONS:Different serotypes and certain transmissible characteristics, such as VT-type and the enterohaemolysin phenotype, appeared to be common throughout the VTEC population at different times. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY:Detailed typing and subtyping strains of VTEC as described in this study may improve our understanding of the relationship between bovine VTEC and those found in the human population.

An outbreak of E. coli O157 infection occurred in the Highland Region of Scotland in the summer of 1999. The source of the outbreak was traced to an untreated private water supply. All six cases identified arose in visitors to the area, and most had very limited exposure to the contaminated water. Permanent residents on the same supply were unaffected. The E. coli O157 isolates from the water, sheep faeces collected from around the source and the human stool samples were indistinguishable using pulsed field gel electrophoresis. Previously reported outbreaks of E. coli O157 linked to potable water supplies have resulted from structural or treatment failures, which allowed faecal contamination of source water. Here, contamination of the water supply and subsequent human infection was due to the use of an untreated, unprotected private water source in a rural area where animals grazed freely.

This overview places verocytotoxin-producing Escherichia coli (VTEC) in perspective with other E. coli types that cause disease in animals. VTEC O157 and other verocytotoxin-producing serotypes cause severe disease in man but to date, although other VTEC are found in animals, zoonosis appears to be associated with E. coli O157 only. The epidemiology of E. coli O157 in cattle has been studied in Scotland, and this work is described alongside current knowledge.

A scheme to control and eradicate bovine virus diarrhoea (BVD) was initiated in 1994 in the Shetland Islands by local veterinary surgeons and funded by the Shetland Islands Council and Shetland Enterprise Company. Over a 3-year period every bovine animal on the islands was blood-sampled (heparinised) and laboratory tested using MAb-based ELISAs for BVD virus antibody and antigen detection for evidence of disease. A number of BVD virus positive animals (40) were found and culled. A total of 6150 animals were tested from 213 herds and 43% herds were found to be BVD naive. The remaining herds had experienced infection and contained many BVD antibody positive animals. Some repeat sampling of stock in infected herds determined further virus positive animals which were slaughtered and in 1997 the scheme ceased since it appeared that there were no persistent excretors present. The major risk to the Shetland Islands is from bought-in stock, especially animals which are imported in calf. It is vital that all bought-in animals are tested and proven to be free of BVD virus if these animals are in calf, the calves must be tested a birth to determine status. It is strongly advised that only bulls and bulling heifers or cows are bought into Shetland in future, thus, protecting the present stock. Continued surveillance will be required to claim eradication of BVD from Shetland.

Verocytotoxin producing Escherichia coli, and in particular the serotype O157, have been associated with haemorrhagic colitis in man and the potentially fatal condition, mostly of children, haemorrhagic uraemic syndrome (HUS). Scotland has the highest incidence in the UK and the Grampian region is now reporting the highest incidence in the world: more than ten isolations per 100,000 population were reported in 1994. Food poisoning from verocytotoxin producing E. coli is less common than with Salmonella and Campylobacter but the consequences can be severe. Since verocytotoxin producing E. coli O157 has been linked to cattle elsewhere preliminary research has been carried out in Scotland to establish the prevalence in animals and to try to establish if infection in man could be linked to a cattle source.In a preliminary study faeces samples routinely submitted to SACs eight laboratories throughout Scotland were screened for E. coli O157. A total of 13 out of 5237 (0.25%) cattle samples yielded verocytotoxin producing E. coli O157, but there were no isolates from other species.In the second part of the study the more sensitive technique of immunomagnetic separation was used to detect the organism in cattle epidemiologically linked to human cases. In ten out of nineteen incidents investigated an organism indistinguishable from the human isolate was isolated from cattle. In one incident infection to humans from cattle was from improperly pasteurised or contaminated pasteurised milk. In two incidents raw milk could have been the source but in seven incidents direct contact with cattle or contamination of food by cattle handlers was suspected.This work was made possible by a very good working relationship between consultants in public health, medicine, environmental health officers, veterinary laboratories and the reference laboratories. Funding was from the Scottish Office Agriculture, Environment and Fisheries Department. There is a need to further investigate the role of cattle in this potentially fatal condition. The veterinary profession require the knowledge to adequately advise their clients.