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Sheep Faeces (sheep + faeces)

Distribution by Scientific Domains
Life Sciences75%

Selected Abstracts

Leaching of bioluminescent Escherichia coli O157:H7 from sheep and cattle faeces during simulated rainstorm events

JOURNAL OF APPLIED MICROBIOLOGY, Issue 5 2008
A.P. Williams
Abstract Aims:, Development of a novel inoculation technique to improve the current methods of determining the leaching of Escherichia coli O157:H7 from faeces. Methods and Results:, Ruminant faeces were inoculated with a high [c. 107 colony forming units (CFU) g,1] or low (c. 104 CFU g,1) load of a lux- marked strain of E. coli O157:H7 via injection, and subjected to four simulated heavy rainfall events. The population density and metabolic activity of E. coli O157:H7 recovered within the leachate was determined following each simulated rain event and compared with the indigenous E. coli population. The concentration of E. coli O157:H7 in the leachates followed a similar trend to that of nonpathogenic E. coli. Significantly greater densities of generic and pathogenic E. coli were recovered in the leachates generated from sheep faeces compared with cattle faeces. Pathogen metabolic activity was also significantly greater in sheep faeces. Conclusions:, Our findings show that E. coli O157:H7 may readily leach from ruminant faeces during rain events. The bacterium leaches more freely from sheep faeces than from cattle faeces and displays greater metabolic activity within sheep leachate. Significance and Impact of the Study:, A novel inoculation technique was developed that allowed the determination of both population density and cellular activity of E. coli O157:H7 in leachate derived from faeces. [source]

Cefixime,tellurite rhamnose MacConkey agar for isolation of Vero cytotoxin-producing Escherichia coli serogroup O26 from Scottish cattle and sheep faeces

LETTERS IN APPLIED MICROBIOLOGY, Issue 3 2008
J. Evans
Abstract Aims:, To compare rhamnose MacConkey agar supplemented with cefixime and tellurite (CT-RMac) and tryptone bile X-glucuronide (TBX) agars as isolation media for Vero cytotoxin-producing Escherichia coli (VTEC) serogroup O26 from animal faeces. Methods and Results:, Nine VTEC O26 were isolated from sheep faeces; out of which six were isolated only on CT-RMac and one was isolated only on TBX. One hundred and twelve VTEC O26 were isolated from calf faeces; out of which 97% were from CT-RMac and 52% were from TBX. In a study of E. coli O26 strains, 84% of VT-positive O26 did not ferment rhamnose when compared with 16% of VT-negative O26. VT-positive (19%) and VT-negative (39%) E. coli O26 strains did not grow on CT-RMac agar. Conclusions:, It is important to consider that VTEC O26 strains either may ferment rhamnose or may be sensitive to the CT supplement of CT-RMac agar. Significance and Impact of the Study:, This work compares CT-RMac and TBX agars as isolation medium for VTEC O26 from Scottish animal faeces and highlights that VTEC O26 may be missed if only CT-RMac agar is used. [source]

Temporal patterns and quantification of excretion of Mycobacterium avium subsp paratuberculosis in sheep with Johne's disease

AUSTRALIAN VETERINARY JOURNAL, Issue 1 2000
RJ WHITTINGTON
Objectives To determine the frequency of excretion of Mycobacterium avium subsp paratuberculosis in Merino sheep with Johne's disease and to quantify excretion in a group of Merino sheep. Design A pen and laboratory experiment Procedure Seven sheep selected from an affected flock on the basis of acid-fast bacilli in the sheep's faeces were housed and total daily faecal output was collected, weighed and subjected to culture for M avium subsp paratuberculosis. An end-point titration method was used to enumerate viable M avium subsp paratuberculosis in a 15 day pooled sample from five sheep that had acid-fast bacilli in their faeces while housed. Results Four sheep with subclinical multibacillary Johne's disease excreted M avium subsp paratuberculosis each day for 11 days of cultural observation. A further three sheep were intermittent excreters but lacked other evidence of infection with M avium subsp paratuberculosis. The average number of viable bacteria excreted was 1.09 × 108 per gram of faeces while total daily excretion was 8.36 × 1010 viable M avium subsp paratuberculosis per sheep. Examination of faecal smears stained with Ziehl Neelsen was an unreliable means of assessing daily excretion in individual animals except in those with severe lesions. Conclusion Excretion of M avium subsp paratuberculosis in Merino sheep with multibacillary Johne's disease occurred daily, proving that environmental contamination can be continuous on farms with endemic ovine Johne's disease. Faecal culture is a useful method for detecting infection as it does not appear to be affected by the timing of collection of a sample from sheep with multibacillary disease however, to maximise the sensitivity of disease surveillance using faecal culture, sampling rates should be adjusted to take account of the proportions of multibacillary and paucibacillary cases. [source]