U.S. flagAn official website of the United States government
                    Here's how you know **Official websites use .gov**
                            
                            A **.gov** website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
 **Secure .gov websites use HTTPS**
                            
                            A **lock** (                            
                              A locked padlock                                                      
                            
                            ) or **https://** means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.


Menu Agricultural Research Service
						
                    U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
 Food and Feed Safety Research: College Station, TX
 close



    Research

                    Research Projects
                                    Publications
                                    Collaborations
                                    News
                People

                    Staff Listing
                                    CareersSearch small
                    Search
            
            ARS Home
                                About ARS
                                Contact Us




ARS Home Plains Area College Station, Texas Southern Plains Agricultural Research Center Food and Feed Safety Research Research Publications at this Location





- ARS National Programs
- Search for a scientific manuscript
- Search for a research project
- ARS Software
- Programs and Projects
- Collaborations
- Subjects of Investigation
- Publications

Title:   Author  item
                                            Callaway, Todditem
                                            Edrington, Thomasitem
                                            Anderson, Robinitem
                                            Genovese, Kenneth

                                                         - *Ken*item
                                            KEEN, JAMES - CLAY CENTERitem
                                            Looper, Michaelitem
                                            Nisbet, David
  Submitted to: Foodborne Pathogens and Disease
                                    Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
                                    Publication Acceptance Date: 1/8/2008
                                    Publication  Date: 4/1/2008
                                    Citation: Callaway, T.R., Edrington, T.S., Anderson, R.C., Genovese, K.J., Keen, J.E., Looper, M.L., Nisbet, D.J. 2007. Bacteriophage isolated from feedlot cattle can reduce Escherichia coli O157:H7 populations in ruminant gastrointestinal tracts. Foodborne Pathogens and Disease. 5(2):183-191.Interpretive Summary: Bacteriophage are bacterial viruses that can kill specific strains and species of bacteria.  Bacteriophage that kill E. coli O157:H7 were isolated from cattle feces.  These phage were tested in sheep experimentally infected with E. coli O157:H7 to see their killing effect on E. coli O157:H7.  Phage treatment reduced E. coli O157:H7 in the gut of sheep in the cecum and rectum.  A ratio of phage to E. coli O157:H7 of 1:1 was found to be more effective at reducing E. coli O157:H7 populations than ratios of 10:1 or 100:1.  Our results indicate that phages with activity against E. coli O157:H7 can be used as a method to reduce E. coli O157:H7 concentrations in sheep.
                                Technical Abstract: Foodborne pathogenic bacteria, such as Escherichia coli O157:H7, can live undetected in the gut of food animals and be spread to humans via consumption of contaminated meat, direct animal contact, or water runoff into drinking and crop irrigation water supplies.  Bacteriophages are viruses that prey on bacteria, offering a natural, non-antibiotic method to reduce pathogens in animals and the food supply.  In this research we show that a cocktail of phages isolated from commercial cattle feces reduced E. coli O157:H7 populations in the caecum and rectum of sheep where it had been experimentally introduced.  In in vivo studies we found that our cocktail of phages reduced E. coli O157:H7 populations in both the caecum and rectum.  This is in contrast to previous studies using phage derived from environmental sources.  A 1:1 ratio of phage to bacteria was found to be more effective than either of the higher ratios of 10:1 or 100:1.  Our results demonstrate that phage can be used as a pre-harvest intervention, but the phages must be selected based both on efficacy as well its ability survive in the anaerobic and highly competitive environment of the gut.


Return to top


Connect with ARS Sign up


ARS Home
                            USDA.gov
                            Plain Writing
                            Policies & Links
                            Civil Rights Statements
                            FOIA
                            Accessibility Statement
                            Privacy Policy
                            Non-Discrimination Statement
                            Quality of Information
                            USA.gov
                            WhiteHouse.gov