Enterotoxigenicity and fimbrial K88 antigenicity of Escherichia coli isolated from piglet diarrhoea

Abstract

Escherichia coli strains (39) isolated from piglet diarrhoea were examined for enterotoxigenicity and K88 fimbrial antigenicity to select a suitable strain for immunoprophylactic use. Using piglet ileal loop technique for enterotoxigenicity determination, most strains of serotype 08, 0.57 and 0101 and one strain each of serotypes 058, 035, 051, 05, 0123, 036,09, 010,0148, 06 and 0 104 were found enterotoxigenic. Strains of serotypes 08, 0157, 035, 0101, 051 and 06 were also found capable of producing heat-stable enterotoxin (ST). All the enterotoxigenic E. coli strains were screened for the presence of K88ab pili by immunodiffusion test. Out of 24 enterotoxigenic E. coli strains (14 serotypes) 3 strains belonging to each of the serotypes 08 and 0157 as well as 1strain each of 051 and 06 possessed K88 ab antigen.