Wild Boar Guilty Of Spinach Contamination

One wild pig matched to contaminating E.coli strain.

Remember the scare about E. coli contaminated spinach late last summer? The spinach reportedly made 204 people sick in 26 States. Three people died from eating this spinach. The search for the source of contamination concentrated soon on local wildlife as the actual contributors of the E. coli.

After meticulous investigations and diligent studies, authorities identified at least one small ranch in the Salinas Valley of California. Nine spinach samples and numerous samples from infected humans matched. Another matching sample was found in one wild boar.

"Clearly, we have positive results on one property that are helping to refine our investigation. We have not closed any possibilities on three other [nearby] ranches, but the information is accumulating that our environmental findings are consistent on this one property", said Dr. Kevin Reilly, deputy director of the prevention services division for the California Department of Health Services according to an article published in March 2009 on the website of bio-medicine.org, a health news service group.

The matching samples of E. coli were found in water samples from a nearby creek, in cattle feces and in the gastrointestinal tract of a wild boar on the property.

Wild pigs were suspected from the beginning as a likely source of the E. coli. Matching E.coli in the intestinal track of the boar and on the contaminated spinach clearly establishes the wild pig as the means of transport of the harmful bacteria from the water of a near by creek to the spinach fields. Cattle were also roaming in the area. But cattle do not normally invade spinach fields nor are they known for digging small holes under fences.

Boar hunters on the other hand are familiar with the habit of wild pigs to get through fences by digging passages or breaking pig sized holes into them. As wild pig hunters we are also aware that boar visit water at least twice a day. And let us not forget mud wallows. Wild pigs love to spend time in them. While wallowing, wild pigs urinate and defecate creating a potential for E.coli contamination.

The connection between the boar, water from the creek and contaminated spinach therefore makes sense to me.

The source of contamination on three other ranches close by is still under investigation.

While 'agricultural and health authorities' expressed for a long time concerns over cattle ranches and fresh produce fields in close proximity not much has changed. Chances are not much will change in the near future.

Except that I can already hear the whirling of rotors on helicopters hired by some enterprising 'wilderness' outfitter or guide to rid the world from E. coli infested wild pigs. For a small fee, of course.

Let this serve as a reminder: After the thrill of the hunt comes hard work transporting and field dressing the game. It behooves hunters to protect themselves, particularly during field dressing when the closest and potentially dirtiest contact between hunter and harvest occurs. E. coli are not the only potentially harmful pathogens found in wild boar. Wearing gloves and using liberal quantities of plastic materials to protect the game from soil contamination is a must. And don't forget to apply insect repellents before you field dress and skin the body. A multitude of unpleasant insect will be looking for a new, good home. Especially during the warm season. Another good reason why not to hunt wild boar during the hottest times of summer.

PJJ