Meridian Life Science provides an antibody and antigen resource for researchers that are working to understand the epidemiology of Escherichia coli (E coli).
From 1996-2004, although not eliminated, a significant decline in the incidence of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) was observed.
Since the beginning of 2005 however, this leading cause of bacterial food borne illness is now on the rise.
The most common STEC is STEC O157, but there are also non-O157 STEC associated with human disease.
According to the CDC, the root cause for the increase in human STEC O157 and non-O157 STEC infections is not known.
Outbreaks have been due to consumption of contaminated lettuce and spinach, consumption of undercooked ground beef, and contact with animals in settings such as petting zoos.
In 2007, Kansas State University researchers found that cattle fed distiller's grains, a by-product of the ethanol distilling process, had an increased prevalence of E coli O157 in their hindgut.
This type of E coli is present in healthy cattle but poses a health risk to humans who can acquire it through undercooked meat, raw dairy products and produce contaminated with cattle manure.
