Technology Description:   Agricultural Research Service (ARS) scientists in Texas have discovered a method for controlling food borne enteric bacterial pathogens in animals.  These types of pathogens, which include Campylobacter spp., Eschericia coli 0157:H7, Listeria monocytogenes, and Salmonella spp., can be transmitted to humans that consume contaminated meat and poultry products.  Meat and poultry contamination often occurs as a result of exposure of animal carcasses to ingested or fecal material during or after slaughter.  This invention helps reduce bacterial pathogens by using an effective amount and mixture of nitro compounds.  The compounds may be administered orally or externally prior to slaughter, reducing the bacterial populations that may be present as contaminants in the gastrointestinal track or on the animal’s skin.  This invention can be used to treat meat-producing, ruminant and non-ruminant animals, such cattle, chickens, turkeys, ducks, quail, geese, pigs and sheep.    This invention will require a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement for further pharmacological research.  This invention may be used as a feed additive or drug that may require Food and Drug Administration approval.  This technology complements ARS patent application S.N. 10/264,101, “Use of Chlorate Ion or Preparations Thereof for Reduction of food Borne Pathogens.”     Pharmaceutical companies and feed manufactures will be able to use this technology.  The technology has advantages over similar technologies, including that it’s longer lasting and it can be added to feed.   Reference:  Please refer to USPN 7,176,244 (Docket #0128.02), “2-Nitropropanol, Nitroethane and 2-Nitroethanol as Microbial Disinfectants,” which issued on February 13, 2007.  Foreign patent rights are available.   Inventors:   Robin C. Anderson Food and Feed Safety Research College Station, TX  77845 Phone: (979) 260-9317     Fax: (979) 260-9332 Anderson@ffsru.tamu.edu David J. Nisbet (Same as first inventor) Phone: (979) 260-9484     Fax: (979) 260-9332 nisbet@ffsru.tamu.edu Yong Soo Jung (Formerly with ARS)