Science Buddies: "Ask an Expert"

Hello, I am trying to figure out exactley how pathogenic bacteria, E.coli and Salmonella gets inside animals' guts? I know, we have good E.coli inside our bodies, but do animals always carry pathogenic bacteria inside as well as non-pathogenic? If they do, then they do not get sick like we, humans, do? Thank you.

It is my understanding that pathogens are not normally in the human body. Once do do get there, they cause disease of varying intensity. They can enter through cuts (in feet or otherwise), through food, or by oral contact on surfaces.

I found the information here very interesting;
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pathogenic_bacteria
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pathogenic_bacteria

Hi,

Sunmoonstars has given you some excellent information. Here is information on Salmonella and E. coli infections:

http://www.fsis.usda.gov/factsheets/sal ... /index.asp

http://www.cdc.gov/healthypets/diseases/ecoli.htm

Animals may carry Salmonella and E. coli strains that will cause disease in humans, but will not be ill themselves. Humans can carry strains of bacteria that are normal flora for us, but will cause disease in animals.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_No ... inal_Tract

Are you planning to do a science project on this topic? Here are a couple of interesting articles on this subject:

http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/rr5404a1.htm

http://www.news.cornell.edu/releases/Se ... f.hrs.html

Donna Hardy