Vachon, Madhura2023-09-192023-09-192023https://hdl.handle.net/11299/257042University of Minnesota Ph.D. dissertation. 2023. Major: Environmental Health. Advisor: Craig Hedberg. 1 computer file (PDF); xi, 121 pages.Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) are a group of enteric bacteria that can cause severe illness in people, particularly young children. STEC infection can progress to the development of post-diarrheal hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) which can lead to renal failure and even death in the most severe cases. Ruminant animals like cattle, sheep, and goats, are natural reservoirs of STEC and thus, interacting with these animals can pose a human health risk. The purpose of this dissertation is to consider STEC transmission and subsequent HUS development from animal contact venues as a system connected by elements of human health, animal health, and environmental health and propose ways to mitigate disease risk at these events simultaneously across all three domains.In a series of four chapters, this thesis identifies a relationship between animal exposure and HUS development independent of known risk factors for HUS, analyzes the effect of ruminant exposure setting on HUS development, determines which public health interventions are most effective at maximizing handwashing behavior at agricultural fairs, and offers pilot data measuring serum cortisol levels in Minnesota show cattle along with matched cattle from farm locations that are not for show. The combined findings from these studies a) provide evidence of an otherwise unexplored relationship between ruminant exposure and HUS, b) showcase that all children, regardless of prior farm exposures, have an increased risk of HUS when visiting a farm or other animal contact venue, c) demonstrate the impact that various social influences can have on handwashing behavior and propose ways to improve handwashing at animal contact venues, and d) offer pilot data to inform future research on cattle stress at agricultural fairs and petting zoos.enAnimal Contact VenuesHemolytic Uremic SyndromeOne HealthShiga toxin-producing Escherichia coliThesis or Dissertation