Escherichia coli and Salmonella sp. in domestic cattle and wild Roosevelt elk: fecal pathogens at the wildlife-domestic interface

Author

Emily A. Buck, Humboldt State UniversityFollow

Graduation Date

Fall 2022

Document Type

Thesis

Program

Master of Science degree with a major in Natural Resources, option Wildlife

Committee Chair Name

Richard N. Brown PhD, DVM

Committee Chair Affiliation

HSU Faculty or Staff

Second Committee Member Name

Dan Barton, PhD

Second Committee Member Affiliation

HSU Faculty or Staff

Third Committee Member Name

Mark Wilson, PhD

Third Committee Member Affiliation

HSU Faculty or Staff

Subject Categories

Wildlife Management

Abstract

Direct or indirect contact between domestic populations of animals and wildlife carries an inherent risk for transmission of pathogens that cause infectious disease. In Humboldt and Del Norte counties of northern California, ongoing conflict between ranchers and Roosevelt elk groups results from elk use of ranching pastures and pastures on private land. Fecal samples from elk in association with cattle, cattle, and from elk not in known association with cattle were assessed for the presence of bacteria Salmonella enterica and pathogenic Escherichia coli to assess whether association with cattle increases risk of infection for elk. Group identity (one of the elk groups or cattle group) was the leading parameter in infection likelihood models, and elk in association with cattle were over nine times more likely to have pathogenic non-O157:H7 E. coli isolated from their feces than elk that were not in association with cattle.

Citation Style

JLM

Recommended Citation

Buck, Emily A., "Escherichia coli and Salmonella sp. in domestic cattle and wild Roosevelt elk: fecal pathogens at the wildlife-domestic interface" (2022). Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects. 609.
https://digitalcommons.humboldt.edu/etd/609