Review of the Food-borne Zoonoses Research ... - ARCHIVE: Defra

3. E. coli review summary
3.1 Success of research in providing value to Defra
In recent years, research projects including those supported by Defra have contributed
greatly to a better understanding of E. coli O157 infections in animals and man. The
series of Defra funded projects has led to significant progress being made in several
areas, from gaining better knowledge of the prevalence of infection in cattle and other
livestock species through to the development of possible approaches to the control of the
infection in cattle.
3.2 Issues and areas of concern relating to this research
A wide range of research projects were reviewed and while some areas of research had
not been particularly productive there were other areas where excellent progress had
been made. Research related to the predilection site for E. coli O157 colonisation in
cattle and the progress towards developing control methods based on this knowledge
were rated highly. It was noted that VTECs other than E. coli O157 also are a disease
risk and the research programme should not focus entirely on E. coli O157.
3.3 Gaps in research
A better understanding is still required of the epidemiology of the infection particularly as
it is now clear that infection can be acquired from environmental and other sources in
addition to the well described route through eating infected meat products. An on-going
review project funded by the FSA on past and current research on verocytotoxin
producing Escherichia coli (VTEC) in relation to public health protection is expected to
provide some useful indications of research gaps and requirements.
It was considered that further research on vaccination as a possible approach to control
was justified and it was noted that there is a current LINK project looking at vaccination
strategies in cattle. Although research has shown that other livestock species apart from
cattle can be colonised to a varying extent by E. coli O157, it was suggested that a better
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