Abstract
Wild and domesticated animals can harbor a pathogenic Escherichia coli strain designated as O157:H7. Potential health problems could occur if strain O157:H7 is a more robust survivor in defecated waste than commonly used indicator bacteria. A laboratory study was conducted to assess E. coli O157:H7 survival relative to a nonpathogenie E. coli strain in two soils with different physical and chemical characteristics. Bacteria in the inoculated soils were enumerated on a weekly basis for 8 wk using a most probable number (MPN) technique. First-order decay models were used to describe bacteria mortality in the soils. Decay series were described slightly better by a two-stage function than by a single-stage function. Strain O157:H7 exhibited similar mortality patterns to the nonpathogenic E. coli in the same soil environment. Both E. coli strains had greater mortality rates in Pope silt loam (coarse-loamy, mixed, active, mesic Fluventic Dystrudept) than Zanesville silt loam (fine-silty, mixed, active, mesic Oxyaquic Fragiudalf). Differences in available soil water probably were the overriding factor in E. coli survival. Escherichia coli O157:H7 survival could be modeled in the same way as nonpathogenic E. coli and appears to have a slightly higher mortality rate.
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
11-2000
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
http://dx.doi.org/10.2134/jeq2000.00472425002900060012x
Repository Citation
Mubiru, D. N.; Coyne, Mark S.; and Grove, John H., "Mortality of Escherichia coli O157:H7 in Two Soils with Different Physical and Chemical Properties" (2000). Plant and Soil Sciences Faculty Publications. 7.
https://uknowledge.uky.edu/pss_facpub/7
Notes/Citation Information
Published in Journal of Environmental Quality, v. 29, no. 6, p. 1821-1825.
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