Preliminary investigation of prevalence of three pathogens in feces of canada geese (Branta canadensis). Johnson, Adèle, Atwill, E, Louhaichi, Mounir, Tonooka, Karen, Borman, Michael,

ABSTRACT- Canada geese (Branta canadensis) populations in the Willamette Valley (Oregon) have increased from approximately 25,000 in 1970 to 300,000 in 2000. Geese frequently graze farm fields, golf courses, playing fields, and parks. We conducted a preliminary study assessing potential health risks associated with contact with goose feces. Three pathogens were selected for screening: Salmonella, Escherichia coli, and Campylobacter jejuni. Agricultural fields near Corvallis and on Sauvie Island were sampled on 5 May 2004, 12 May 2004, respectively. Geese were flushed off the fields and individual fresh goose fecal deposits were sampled by immersing cotton-tipped swabs in the solid fecal matter and then transferring swabs to sterile test tubes containing media. For the Salmonella cultures, one cotton-tipped swab was placed in double strength skim milk, then transferred to Tetrethionate enrichment broth and incubated. The E. coli swab was taken from the skim milk sampled and placed directly onto sorbitol-MacConkey agar and incubated, with suspect colonies further identified by chemical bench tests. For C. jejuni, one swab was placed in semi-solid media and transported to the lab, incubated, then subcultured to Campylobacter selective agar. Agar plates were incubated for 48h at 42C in a micro-aerophilic environment. Suspect colonies were identified by oxidase, catalase, and gram stain then hippurate testing. No Salmonella was found in the 50 samples tested. E. coli was found in 1 sample from Corvallis and no samples from Sauvie Island. Ten samples from Corvallis and 1 from Sauvie Island detected C. jejuni. No E. coli samples were pathogenic.

KEY WORDS: pathogen, Camploybacter, goose