A review of Shiga toxin Escherichia coli and Salmonella enterica in cattle and free-ranging birds: potential association and epidemiological links

Cattle are the main reservoir for human infection by pathogenic Escherichia coli and Salmonella enterica. To prevent entry of these foodborne pathogens into the human food chain, management factors at the farm level must be identifi ed and controlled. External sources of contamination, such as birds, should be considered as potential sources of transmission over long distances. In this review, we focus on the epidemiology of infection by E. coli and S. enterica and the consequences of birds acting as disseminators of these pathogens at dairy farms in terms of cattle health and the subsequent effects on human health.