Epidemiology and Infection

Table of Contents - 1988 - Volume 100, Issue 02  

Research Article

Managemental influences on the selective proliferation of two strains of haemolytic Escherichia coli in weaned pigs

D. J. Hampsona1 p1, Z. F. Fua1, K. A. Bettleheima2 p2 and M. W. Wilsona2

a1 Department of Veterinary Pathology and Public Health, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand

a2 National Health Institute, kenepuru Drive, Porirua, New Zealand

Abstract

In an experimental study on a piggery it was found that haemolytic Escherichia coli of O-scrotypes 138 or 139 proliferated in the intestinal tracts of pigs following weaning, with E. coli of the 0-138 typo also being occasionally recovered from unwearied pigs, and onco from a sow. Organisms of the O-138 typo produced heat labile enterotoxin and their presence in weaned pigs was associated with the development of severe post-weaning diarrhoea. E. coli of O-130 type produced a vero cell cytotoxin and were associated with a milder diarrhoea in weaned pigs. Under various managemental circumstances the O-138 type E. coli almost invariably proliferated after weaning. The O-139 strain of E. coli did however proliferate rather than the O-138 strain following the movement of weaned pigs to new accommodation, after weaned pigs were returned to their sow and then weaning again 5 days later, and very occasionally in pigs weaned at 5 weeks of ago. In all theso cases earlier proliferation of the O-138 E. coli had been detected, suggesting that this may be a prerequisite for proliferation of the O-130 strain.

(Accepted October 27 1987)

Correspondence:

p1 Present address: Division of Veterinary Biology, School of Veterinary Studies, Murdoch University, Murdoch, Western Australia, 6150

p2 Present address: Fairfield Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.

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