Abstract: Aims: To determine the fate of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) strains defecated onto alpine grassland soils. Methods and Results: During the summers of 2005 and 2006, the field survival of STEC was monitored in cowpats and underlying soils in four different alpine pasture units. A most probable number (MPN)-PCR stx assay was used to enumerate STEC populations. STEC levels ranged between 3·9 and 5·4 log10 CFU g−1 in fresh cowpats and slowly decreased until their complete decay (inactivation rates k < 0·04 day−1). PFGE typin...
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Horticulture