Appearance of enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli in piglets with diarrhea in connection with feed changes

Microbiol Immunol. 1982;26(6):467-77. doi: 10.1111/j.1348-0421.1982.tb00200.x.

Abstract

Twelve weaned piglet (3-week-old) were divided into three groups according to time of feed change and observed for diarrhea during the time they were 3 to 8 weeks of age. A total of 553 strains of Escherichia coli were isolated from rectal fecal samples and examined for heat-labile (LT) and heat-stable (ST) enterotoxins, pilus antigens (K88, K99, and 987P), hemolysin (Hly), raffinose utilization (Raf) and drug resistance. Enterotoxins and/or hemolytic E. coli strains appeared in the rectal feces of 5- to 6-week-old piglets with diarrhea in connection with feed change and changing temperatures. Most of the isolates showed multiple drug resistance to sulfonamides (Sa), streptomycin (Sp), ampicillin, and/or mercury. Enterotoxigenic E. coli isolates represented four phenotypes: K88+.LT+.Hly+.Raf+.(SaSmCpTcKmSp) (12 strains), K99+.ST+.Raf+.(TcKm) (7 strains), ST+.Raf+.(TcKm) (7 strains), and ST.+(SaSmKm) (25 strains). The drug resistance determinants were transferable concurrently and some of them mobilized the determinants for K88, LT, Hly, and Raf to an E. coli C strain.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Diarrhea / microbiology
  • Diarrhea / veterinary*
  • Drug Resistance, Microbial
  • Escherichia coli / genetics
  • Escherichia coli / isolation & purification*
  • Feces / microbiology
  • Phenotype
  • Swine / microbiology
  • Swine Diseases / microbiology*