Escherichia coli O157:H7 colonisation in small domesticruminants
2009
Enterohaemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) O157:H7 was first implicated in human
disease in the early 1980s, with ruminants cited as the primary reservoirs. Preliminary
studies indicated cattle to be the sole source of E. coli O157:H7 outbreaks in humans,
however further epidemiological studies soon demonstrated that E. coli O157:H7 was
widespread in other food sources and that a number of transmission routes existed. More
recently, small domestic ruminants (sheep and goats) have emerged as important sources
of E. coli O157:H7 human infection, particularly with the widespread popularity of petting
farms and the increased use of sheep and goat food products, including unpasteurised
cheeses. Although the colonisation and persistence characteristics of E. coli O157:H7 in the
bovine host have been studied intensively, this is not the case for small ruminants. Despite
many similarities with the bovine host, the pathobiology of E. coli O157:H7 in small
domestic ruminants does appear to differ significantly from that described in cattle. This
review aims to critically review the current knowledge regarding colonisation and
persistence of E. coli O157:H7 in small domestic ruminants, including comparisons with the
bovine host where appropriate.
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