Summary Shiga toxin producing Escherichia coli O157:H7 (STEC O157) is naturally found in the gastrointestinal tract of cattle and can cause severe disease in humans. There is limited understanding of the population dynamics and microevolution of STEC O157 at herd level. In this study, isolates from a closed beef herd of 23 cows were used to examine the population turnover in the herd. Of the nine STEC O157 clades previously de...

Escherichia coli , a normal inhabitant of the intestinal tract of mammals and birds, is a diverse species. Most studies on E. coli populations involve organisms from humans or human‐associated animals. In this study, we undertook a survey of E. coli from native Australian mammals, predominantly Rattus tunneyi , living in a relatively pristine environment in the Bundjalung National Park. The genetic diversity was assessed and c...