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In Reply: In response to Dr Walker, ruminants other than cattle may not benefit from being fed grass rather than grain prior to slaughter. Kudva et al¹ reported that abruptly changing the feed of sheep from corn and pelleted alfalfa to grass-hay increased their fecal shedding of E coli O157:h7, while the opposite abrupt change from grass-hay to corn and pelleted alfalfa decreased fecal shedding. Nonetheless, I agree that farm management practices are an important component of a multifaceted approach to limiting Shiga toxin-mediated illness and death.

Escherichia coli O157:h7 and other EHEC are easily transmitted to other livestock by the movement of bovine and nonbovine animals between farms, by the practice of wetting feeds prior to their administration (moisture facilitates the multiplication of E coli), and by not cleaning E coli contamination from water troughs, where they can remain viable for months.² Animals that have had feed withheld . . . [Full Text of this Article]

Richard L. Siegler, MD
Division of Nephrology
University of Utah School of Medicine
Salt Lake City

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