Differences in Fecal Bacterial Community Composition Between Beef Steers which are High-Shedders and Low-Shedders of Shiga Toxin-Producing Escherichia coli (STEC)

Authors

• Nirosh D. Aluthge, University of Nebraska–Lincoln
• Yoshitha A. Wanniarachchi, University of Nebraska–Lincoln
• Brandon L. Nuttelman Nuttelman, University of Nebraska–Lincoln
• Cody J. Schneider, University of Nebraska–Lincoln
• Terry J. Klopfenstein, University of Nebraska–LincolnFollow
• Galen E. Erickson, University of Nebraska–LincolnFollow
• Samodha C. Fernando, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow

Date of this Version

2014

Citation

2014 Nebraska Beef Cattle Report, UNL Extension MP99, pp. 101-102.

Comments

Copyright © 2014 University of Nebraska.

Abstract

The community composition of the fecal microbiota was compared between beef steers which were high-shedders and low-shedders of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli. Based on Shannon and Chao 1 diversity indices, the high-shedders had a more diverse fecal bacterial community than the low-shedding steers. Members of the genus Prevotella were observed as being more abundant in the low-shedders compared to the high-shedders, while Succinivibrio were more abundant in the high-shedders. Isolation of specific bacteria which are significantly more abundant in low-shedders may pave the way to developing direct-fed microbials which are effective in reducing STEC shedding among high-shedding beef steers.