Super-shedding and the link between human infection and livestock carriage of Escherichia coli O157

Chase-Topping, M., Gally, D., Low, C., Matthews, L. and Woolhouse, M. (2008) Super-shedding and the link between human infection and livestock carriage of Escherichia coli O157. Nature Reviews Microbiology, 6(12), pp. 904-912. (doi: 10.1126/science.1170587)

Abstract

Cattle that excrete more Escherichia coli O157 than others are known as super-shedders. Super-shedding has important consequences for the epidemiology of E. coli O157 in cattle-its main reservoir-and for the risk of human infection, particularly owing to environmental exposure. Ultimately, control measures targeted at super-shedders may prove to be highly effective. We currently have only a limited understanding of both the nature and the determinants of super-shedding. However, super-shedding has been observed to be associated with colonization at the terminal rectum and might also occur more often with certain pathogen phage types. More generally, epidemiological evidence suggests that super-shedding might be important in other bacterial and viral infections

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Matthews, Professor Louise
• Authors: Chase-Topping, M., Gally, D., Low, C., Matthews, L., and Woolhouse, M.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Biodiversity, One Health & Veterinary Medicine
• Journal Name: Nature Reviews Microbiology
• ISSN: 1740-1526