Escherichia coli O157 in feedlot cattle feces and water in four major feeder-cattle states in the USA.

The prevalence of Escherichia coli O157 was determined in 10662 fecal samples, 2130 water and 1132 water tank-sediment samples collected during the summer months in 2001 from 711 pens in 73 feedlots located in Kansas, Nebraska, Texas, or Oklahoma, USA. Overall, 10.2% of fecal samples were positive for E. coli O157, with 52% of the pens and 95.9% of the feedlots having at least one positive fecal sample. There were no differences among states or months in the fecal prevalences. Water or water tank-sediment was positive in 13.1% of the water tanks, and 60.3% of feedlots had at least one positive tank. Cattle were more likely to be shedding E. coli O157 in pens with positive water tanks, and water was more likely to be positive when E. coli O157 was detected in the sediment.