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. 1994 Aug;60(8):2958–2962. doi: 10.1128/aem.60.8.2958-2962.1994

Variable colonization of chickens perorally inoculated with Escherichia coli O157:H7 and subsequent contamination of eggs.

J L Schoeni 1, M P Doyle 1
PMCID: PMC201749  PMID: 8085831

Abstract

Challenging 1-day-old White Leghorn chicks perorally with 2.6 x 10(1) to 2.6 x 10(5) Escherichia coli O157:H7 bacteria per chick resulted in cecal colonization at all levels. Two of six chicks inoculated with only 2.6 x 10(1) E. coli O157:H7 bacteria carried 10(3) to 10(4) E. coli O157:H7 bacteria per g of cecal tissue when sacrificed 3 months postinoculation. E. coli O157:H7 colonization persisted at least 10 to 11 months when chicks were administered 10(8) E. coli O157:H7 bacteria. Eggs from five hens that were fecal shedders of E. coli O157:H7 until the termination of the study (10 to 11 months) were assayed for E. coli O157:H7. The organism was isolated from the shells of 14 of 101 (13.9%) eggs but not from the yolks and whites. Considering that chicks can be readily colonized by small populations of E. coli O157:H7 and continue to be long-term shedders, it is possible that chickens and hen eggs can serve as vehicles of this human pathogen.

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Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

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