[USCC] O157 E Coli

[Tim Evans]

Forrest,

Yes, goats can carry O157:H7.  The food safety newsletter Fsnet just carried
an article about a 17 year old girl who came down with O157 after stroking a
bottle-fed goat kid that was taken to her church - the story said that after
stroking the kid she went on to suffer kidney failure and had a leg
amputated because of gangrene.

Whether to compost animal manure is a risk assessment:
- is there a pathway for direct ingestions such as will people be handling
the compost with their bare hands?
- will it be used on soil in which plants will grow that will be eaten raw?

If I were going to use the compost on corn crops, around top-fruit or
ornamental plantings (as examples) I think I would include the manure in the
composting - but it's your decision - you know what the compost is going to
be used for and how controlled your conditions are. 

regards

Tim


-----Original Message-----
From: Forrest W. Thye [mailto:thye at vt.edu] 
Sent: 14 December 2006 19:41
To: compost at composter.com
Subject: [USCC] O157 E Coli

I have seen E Coli O157 mentioned to be wide spread in cattle and 
sheep manure (and pig manure who have consumed cattle or sheep 
manure).  Is O157 found in horse or goat manure as well and as wide 
spread as in cattle and sheep?  Since I don't have the facilities to 
compost with the control needed to be sure to kill pathogens such as 
O157 I don't think I should be using any manure from any species in 
my small scale composting operation.  Thanks
Forrest Thye





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