Abstract: | Two groups of calves were subjected to dietary stress by withholding of food beginning 1 or 14 days after inoculation with 1010 CFU of Escherichia coli O157:H7. Following treatment, neither group had a significant increase in fecal shedding of E. coli O157:H7. A third group of calves had food withheld for 48 h prior to inoculation with 107 CFU of E. coli O157:H7. These calves were more susceptible to infection and shed significantly more E. coli O157:H7 organisms than calves maintained on a normal diet. |