How many E. coli bacteria are typically shed by humans daily through scat?

• A. One million
• B. Five hundred million
• C. Two billion
• D. Ten billion

Answer: (C)

Humans typically shed approximately two billion E. coli bacteria daily through fecal matter. This range accounts for the large number of E. coli that inhabit the intestines as part of the normal gut flora. These bacteria play a key role in various digestive processes, and their presence in feces reflects the metabolic activity of the gut.

The other options suggest significantly lower or higher numbers that do not align with established scientific research on human E. coli shedding. For instance, one million or five hundred million would be underestimations of the daily output, whereas ten billion would be an overestimation. Two billion represents a more accurate estimate based on studies observing bacterial populations in human feces, making it the most reliable figure in this context.