Verocytotoxin-producing Escherichia coli in wild birds and rodents in close proximity to farms

Eva Møller Nielsen, Marianne Skov, Jesper J. Madsen, Jens Lodal, Jørgen Brøchner Jespersen, Dorte Lau Baggesen

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articleResearchpeer-review

Abstract

Wild animals living close to cattle and pig farms (four each) were examined for verocytotoxin-producing Escherichia coli (VTEC; also known as Shiga toxin-producing E. coli). The prevalence of VTEC among the 260 samples from wild animals was generally low. However, VTEC isolates from a starling (Sturnus vulgaris) and a Norway rat (Rattus norvegicus) were identical to cattle isolates from the corresponding farms with respect to serotype, virulence profile, and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis type. This study shows that wild birds and rodents may become infected from farm animals or vice versa, suggesting a possible role in VTEC transmission.
Original languageEnglish
JournalApplied and Environmental Microbiology
Volume70
Issue number11
Pages (from-to)6944-6947
ISSN0099-2240
Publication statusPublished - 2004

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