Applied and Environmental Microbiology, June 2007, p. 4066-4068, Vol. 73, No. 12
0099-2240/07/$08.00+0 doi:10.1128/AEM.02905-06
Copyright © 2007, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.
Preliminary Evidence that American Bullfrogs (Rana catesbeiana) Are Suitable Hosts for Escherichia coli O157:H7
Matthew J. Gray,1
Sreekumari Rajeev,2
Debra L. Miller,2*
A. Chandler Schmutzer,1
Elizabeth C. Burton,1
Emily D. Rogers,1 and
Graham J. Hickling1
The University of Tennessee, Department of Forestry, Wildlife and Fisheries, Knoxville, Tennessee 37996,1
The University of Georgia, Veterinary Diagnostic and Investigational Laboratory, Tifton, Georgia 317932
Received 15 December 2006/
Accepted 8 April 2007
We orally inoculated Rana catesbeiana tadpoles (n = 23) and metamorphs (n = 24) to test their suitability as hosts for Escherichia coli O157:H7. Tadpoles were housed in flowthrough aquaria and did not become infected. Metamorphs were housed in stagnant aquaria, and 54% tested positive through 14 days postinoculation, suggesting that they are suitable hosts for E. coli O157:H7.
* Corresponding author. Mailing address: The University of Georgia, Veterinary Diagnostic and Investigational Laboratory, 43 Brighton Road, Tifton, GA 31793. Phone: (229) 386-3340. Fax: (229) 386-7128. E-mail: millerdl{at}uga.edu
Published ahead of print on 20 April 2007.
Applied and Environmental Microbiology, June 2007, p. 4066-4068, Vol. 73, No. 12
0099-2240/07/$08.00+0 doi:10.1128/AEM.02905-06
Copyright © 2007, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.
Copyright © 2007 by the American Society for Microbiology. All rights reserved.