Factors influencing the presence and concentration of E-coli O157 and E-coli in farm waste on six cattle farms in North-West England

To investigate the factors influencing the presence and burden of Escherichia coli O157 in farm wastes. Wastes from six cattle farms were screened for the presence and concentration of E. coli O157 and E. coli on three occasions over a year and waste management data were collected. Sixty-three of 878 (7.1%) samples were positive for verocytotoxigenic Escherichia coli O157 and 664/875 (75.9%) for E. coli with detectable levels greater in fresh waste than in stored waste, pasture or dirty water. The turning/stirring of stored waste and the use of more than one store (allowing longer storage times) reduced the proportion of E. coli O157 positive samples. The presence of E. coli O157 significantly reduced from a high prevalence found in fresh faeces and stored waste to lower proportions in dirty water and pasture samples. Escherichia coli O157 was only detected on pasture when waste was spread from contaminated stores the day before sampling. A high prevalence of positive E. coli O157 samples were detected when cattle were re-housed. These findings help to support the importance of treating and storing farm waste, as well as providing evidence for the level of dilution of E. coli O157 from fresh waste to recently spread pastures.