Incidence and persistence of zoonotic bacterial and protozoan pathogens in a beef cattle feedlot runoff control-vegetative treatment system

Determining the survival of zoonotic pathogens in livestock manure and turnoff is critical for understanding the environmental and public health risks associated with these wastes. The occurrence and persistence of the bacterial pathogens Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Campylobacter spp. in a passive beef cattle feedlot runoff control-vegetative treatment system were examined over a 26-mo period. Incidence of the protozoans Cryptosparidium spp. and Giarida spp. was also assessed. The control system utilizes a shallow basin to collect liquid volume is attained, the liquid is discharged from the basin onto a 4.5-ha vegetative treatment area (VTA) of bromegrass which is harvested as hay. Basin discharge transported E. coli O157, Campylobacter fspp., and generic E. coli into the VTA soil, but without additional discharge from the basin, the pathogen prevalences decreased over time. Similarly, the VTA soil concentrations of generic E. coli initially decreased rapidly, but lower residual populations persisted. Isolationh of Cryptospordium oocysts and Giardia cysts form VTA samples was infrequent, indicating differences in sedimentation and/or transport in comparison to bacteria. Isolationh of generic E. coli from freshly cut hay from VTA regions that received basin discharge (12 of 30 vs. 1 of 30 control samples) provided evidence for the risk of contamination; however, neither E. coli O157 or Campylobacter spp. were recovered from the hay following baling. This work indicates that the runoff control system is effective for reducing environment risk by containing and removing pathogens from feedlot runoff.