2株猪繁殖与呼吸综合征病毒毒株对仔猪致病性的比较

为了比较最新分离的猪繁殖与呼吸综合征病毒(PRRSV)变异分离株SY0608和传统毒株S1对仔猪的致病性,本研究选择9头30日龄商品仔猪,随机分为2组,分别接种2株病毒,即S1株感染组(n=5头),SY0608株感染组(n=4头),接种后隔离饲养观察2周。经临床症状观察、病理学、病原学和血常规学检查,结果:SY0608毒株感染组仔猪表现明显临床症状,接种3 d后体温急剧升高至41.8℃;白细胞数急剧减少(降低了45%);病理学变化严重,肺泡膈增宽,大部分肺组织肺泡不张;而S1株感染组仔猪仅出现轻微临床症状和病理变化。SY0608毒株感染组仔猪病毒血症持续时间较S1毒株感染组长,病毒在脏器中的分布更为广泛。SY0608株感染组血清ELISA抗体水平明显高于S1株感染组。结果表明,SY0608毒株对仔猪致病作用明显强于S1毒株。     

仔猪水肿病的诊治

仔猪水肿病是由某些溶血性大肠杆菌引起的断奶仔猪的肠毒血症,对断奶仔猪危害较严重。1病原大肠杆菌有多种菌株,大多数菌株有产生毒素的能力,并能溶解绵羊红细胞,在鲜血琼脂上出现β型溶血环是其特征。2流行病学本病分布广泛,呈地方性流行,无季节性,病程短,死亡率较高。主要发生于断奶后1~2周或30~100日龄仔猪。典型的水肿病在生长快、表面健康的仔猪中多见,经常一窝仔猪中发育最好的易感。病程4~14d,平均不到1周,个别病例病程不超过3d,大多数有临床症状的感染猪在24h内死亡。某些应激因素也可诱发仔猪水肿病的发生。如免疫后气候突变,运输…     

妊娠母猪免疫高致病性猪繁殖与呼吸综合征疫苗对仔猪免疫功能的影响

规模化猪场猪繁殖与呼吸综合征病毒（PRRSV）呈持续性感染,给养猪业造成的损失最为严重。部分规模化猪场未实施切实的猪繁殖与呼吸综合征疫苗免疫,呈慢性和潜伏感染,作者现场对妊娠母猪接种高致病性猪繁殖与呼吸综合征（HP-PRRS）减毒活疫苗（TJM-F92株）,旨在从体液免疫、细胞免疫、非特异性免疫功能角度探讨妊娠母猪接种疫苗后对仔猪免疫功能的影响。选取妊娠60 d母猪随机分为A、B 2组,A组母猪接种HP-PRRS减毒活疫苗（TJM-F92株）,B组母猪接种等量生理盐水,2组所产仔猪于10、20、30日龄时检测PRRSV、猪瘟病毒（CSFV）、猪伪狂犬病病毒（PRV） 母源抗体,以MTT法测定外周血T、B淋巴细胞转化率、以琼脂平板法测定血清溶菌酶含量、以Griess试剂法测定NO含量。试验结果表明,妊娠母猪免疫HP-PRRS减毒活疫苗（TJM-F92株）后,其所产10日龄仔猪PRRSV母源抗体水平显著高于对照组仔猪（P＜0.05）,仔猪CSFV阻断抗体极显著增高（P＜0.01）,20日龄仔猪PRV感染抗体显著下降（P＜0.05）;免疫组和对照组所产仔猪的T、B淋巴细胞转化率及NO、溶菌酶含量均无显著差异（P＞0.05）。提示,妊娠母猪免疫HP-PRRS减毒活疫苗（TJM-F92株）,对所产仔猪非特异性免疫功能和T、B免疫功能均无免疫抑制作用,仔猪抗PRRSV母源抗体、抗CSFV阻断抗体均显著增高且PRV感染抗体降低。     

致仔猪水肿病大肠杆菌的分离鉴定及对小鼠的毒力研究

从发病仔猪脏器中分离到一株细菌,进行了初步鉴定。结果表明,该菌为致猪水肿病大肠杆菌,在血平板上呈β溶血,经PCR鉴定该菌株具有产毒素基因,对小鼠毒力强,能致其发病死亡,血清型为O141,是临床多发血清型菌株。将细菌培养物和裂解毒素分别经皮下和尾静脉两种途径接种于体重为16~18 g昆明系小鼠,小鼠腹腔注射细菌培养物后12~48 h死亡,不表现神经症状,剖检水肿病病变特征不典型;小鼠于尾静脉注射裂解毒素后4~48 h,出现典型的眼睑水肿和后躯瘫痪等神经症状,直至死亡。该菌株致小鼠死亡的最小毒素剂量为0.2 mL/只。研究结果表明,小鼠可作为诊断仔猪水肿病模型,也进一步证明试验菌株为致猪水肿病菌株,可作为制备疫苗菌株。     

猪水肿病大肠杆菌分离、鉴定及药敏试验

本实验从疑似猪水肿病的病例分离到5株大肠杆菌,O抗原鉴定结果表明所有菌株均为O139血清型;应用F18ab菌毛单克隆抗体对这5株大肠杆菌能否表达F18ab菌毛进行了鉴定,结果表明其中2个菌株能表达F18ab菌毛;利用聚合酶链式反应(PCR)对志贺氏菌样毒素Ⅱ型变异体(SLT-Ⅱe)操纵子基因保守区进行了扩增,结果发现在能表达F18ab菌毛2个菌株中可扩增一段特异性序列。以上数据表明这2株大肠杆菌为致仔猪水肿病大肠杆菌。药敏试验表明这两株菌株均对氟哌酸、妥布霉素、庆大霉素、利福平等抗生素高度敏感。     

猪伪狂犬病毒变异株(Fujian-LY)对免疫仔猪的致病性研究

本实验室2014年从福建省龙岩市某规模化猪场疑似猪伪狂犬病发病仔猪的脑组织中分离到1株猪伪狂犬病毒变异株,命名为PRV Fujian-LY株。为了研究Fujian-LY株对免疫仔猪的致病性,将8头20龄的PRV抗原、gE抗体均为阴性,gB抗体均为阳性仔猪随机分为3组,其中2组(每组3头猪)分别通过肌肉注射和滴鼻接种Fujian-LY株,第3组2头仔猪做阴性对照。试验仔猪接种病毒24h后体温均开始升高,随着病程发展,呼吸系统症状明显,滴鼻接种组仔猪发病明显快于肌肉注射组,所有攻毒仔猪虽均有发病但未出现死亡。通过病理剖检、PCR鉴定、病毒分离培养、易感动物感染试验及gE抗体ELISA检测证实Fujian-LY株人工攻毒试验成功。gE抗体检测结果表明所有攻毒仔猪攻毒后7dPRV gE抗体开始阳转。对发病仔猪剖检可见,脑积液明显增多,脑膜血管充血,并伴有出血等典型的伪狂犬病病理变化。病理切片观察结果显示发病仔猪脑实质中小血管扩张充血,血管周围有淋巴细胞包围"血管套"现象,其他主要脏器也均有明显的病理变化。试验结果表明PRV Fujian-LY株为伪狂犬病毒强毒株。     

几种免疫增强剂对仔猪的增重效果研究

为找出能促使仔猪快速增长的免疫增强剂,将来自7窝的42头体重相当的25日龄约克仔猪随机分成A、B、C、D、E、F6组,每组7头。在25日龄、40日龄、47日龄时分别向A、B、C、D、E各组注射2mL转移因子、2mL黄芪多糖、2mL干扰素、2mL左旋咪唑及3mL黄芪多糖,F组注射2mL生理盐水作为对照。在28日龄、40日龄及63日龄分别对每头猪只称量体重。结果显示,B和E组增重在40日龄及63日龄时均极显著高于对照F组(P0.01);A组和D组增重与对照组F组相比差异不显著(P0.05);C组与对照组F组相比少增重2.05%,差异显著(P0.05)。表明黄芪多糖对仔猪增重有显著的促进作用,转移因子、左旋咪唑对仔猪增重无明显作用,干扰素能显著抑制仔猪生长。     

断奶仔猪对毒力基因缺失大肠杆菌的免疫应答

为研究猪水肿病大肠杆菌SLT-Ⅱe编码基因突变菌株作为口服疫苗的免疫效果,本实验用构建的突变菌株(O139/SLT-Ⅱ e/07)口服免疫断奶仔猪后,检测突变菌株在仔猪肠道的定植情况,仔猪血清及粪便中的特异性抗体和细胞因子水平,并进行了免疫保护效力评价.结果显示,免疫后21 d仍能在实验1组(微胶囊口服免疫)和2组(直接口服免疫)的仔猪粪便中检出突变菌株;从免疫后第7 d、14 d和21 d开始,在实验1组血清样品中可分别检测到抗SLT-Ⅱ eA蛋白、F18ab菌毛蛋白和O139抗原的IgG抗体(P/N＞2);从免疫后第7 d、14 d开始,在粪便中可分别检测到抗SLT-Ⅱ eA蛋白、SLT-Ⅱ eB蛋白、O139抗原、F18ab菌毛蛋白的slgA抗体(P/N＞2);免疫仔猪血清中的INF-γ的含量升高;实验2组的血清特异性IgG水平和粪便中sIgA抗体水平比实验1组低;该突变菌株对仔猪具有免疫保护作用.研究结果表明该大肠杆菌基因突变株可作为仔猪水肿病口服疫苗的候选菌株.     

仔猪水肿病的治疗方法与预防措施分析

仔猪水肿病又称溶血性大肠杆菌病,俗称"小猪摇摆症",是由溶血性埃希氏大肠杆菌致病菌株在肠道内大量繁殖产生毒素所引起的肠毒血症.该病病死率高(有时可高达90%以上),对仔猪造成极大危害.该病一年四季均可发生,但由于春秋季节气温多变,所以发病较多.在断奶后l~2周内,同窝中生长速度快、膘满体壮的仔猪易发,小至数日龄、大至4月龄的仔猪也有偶发.带菌母猪和感染仔猪是主要传染源,饲料、饮水及周围环境都有可能被带有病菌的粪便所污染,进而感染仔猪.正在发生严重腹泻,或在哺乳期患过黄白痢的仔猪一般不发生水肿病.     

仔猪水肿病的防治措施

仔猪水肿病又称肠毒血症、溶血性大肠杆菌病、胃水肿,是由特殊血清型的溶血性大肠杆菌在肠道内大量繁殖产生毒素被仔猪机体吸收后引起的病症。现将仔猪水肿病预防和治疗做一介绍,供参考。1防治措施(1)不从疫区引进仔猪。(2)提早训料,加强断奶仔猪的饲养管理,不突然改变饲料和饲     

Experimental infection of specific pathogen free piglets with French strains of Streptococcus suis capsular type 2.

A standardized model of Streptococcus suis type 2 infection in specific-pathogen-free piglets, housed in high-security barns, was used to compare the virulence of 3 French field strains of S. suis serotype 2 isolated from tonsils of a healthy pig (strain 65) or from diseased pigs (meningitis, strain 166', or septicemia, strain 24). In one of the 2 trials, 7-week-old pigs, in 3 groups of 8, were inoculated intravenously with 2 x 10(8) colony-forming units of S. suis type 2. In each group, 1 uninfected animal was a sentinel. Eight animals were also used as negative control group. The experiment was repeated under similar conditions with strains 65 and 166'. Virulence differed markedly among these S. suis strains when clinical signs, zootechnical performances, lesions, and bacteriological data were analyzed. Strain 65 did not induce clinical signs in inoculated pigs. In contrast, pigs infected with the other 2 strains exhibited clinical signs and typical lesions of S. suis type 2 infections. Differences in virulence were also observed between the 2 virulent strains. Sentinel animals exhibited the same manifestations as those recorded in inoculated piglets. Results were similar in the second trial, indicating that under the present experimental conditions, results were reproducible. The standardized conditions described in this study could be a useful tool to further study about the S. suis infection.     

Experimental airborne transmission of Streptococcus suis capsular type 2 in pigs.

Experimental airborne transmission of Streptococcus suis type 2 was studied in specific pathogen free piglets. Forty piglets were allotted to five groups of eight 7-week-old animals and housed in three separated units. Negative control pigs (group 1) were housed in unit A and infected batches were housed in units B (group 2) and C (groups 4). In units B and C, non-inoculated groups (groups 3 and 5, respectively), 40 cm distant from the respective inoculated group and without any physical contact between them, also took place. Six animals of groups 2 and 4 were inoculated intravenously with 2 x 10(8) colony forming units (cfu) of a mild and a high virulent S. suis strains, respectively. The remaining animals in these groups and pigs from groups 1, 3, 5 received broth medium in the same way. Differences among virulence of S. suis capsular type 2 were observed in inoculated pigs of groups 2 and 4. Pigs from group 2 became carriers, showing only mild symptoms. By contrast, animals from group 4 presented an acute form of the disease. All the indirect contact pigs in groups 3 and 5 had S. suis in palatine tonsils from day 6 after the infection and they presented clinical manifestations similar to those observed in experimentally infected pigs. Two direct contact animals were also contaminated in the upper respiratory tract but surprisingly they did not show any symptoms. Airborne transmission of S. suis in experimentally pigs was demonstrated in the present study. Indirect infections, as described in this study, are a more realistic way to infect pigs than other experimental procedures and may be used to further study the pathogenesis of the infection caused by this important pathogen.     

Dilemma of virulence of Streptococcus suis: Canadian isolate 89-1591 characterized as a virulent strain using a standardized experimental model in pigs

Virulence of Streptococccus suis capsular type 2 strain 89-1591 has been controversial in literature. A standardized experimental model with specific-pathogen free piglets was used for a new evaluation of this strain. Twenty-nine piglets were allotted in 4 separated groups. Group 1 consisted of negative control animals which received broth medium. Groups 2, 3, and 4 were intravenously challenged with 2 mL of S. suis, strains 1330, 89-1591, and 166', respectively. The strain 1330 is a recognized avirulent Canadian strain. The strain 166' is a reference French virulent isolate. Pigs inoculated with strain 1330 did not present clinical signs of a S. suis infection. Contamination in organs and bacterial blood circulation were rare and lesions were almost non-existent. Infection of pigs with S. suis strain 89-1591 (group 3) and 166' (group 4) caused severe clinical problems, animals infected with S. suis 166' were the most affected. Pigs presented with clinical signs such as high body temperature, lameness, nervous symptoms, and even mortality. Lesions associated with S. suis were numerous for both strains, but more evident in animals of group 4. It can be concluded that S. suis strain 89-1591 is virulent, although its virulence seems to be lower than that of the French strain. Results of an experimental infection with strain 89-1591 may depend on different factors such as the route of inoculation and the immunological status of the animals used. Using conventional animals, with an unknown status regarding previous S. suis infections, equivocal results may be obtained, and this may explain differences reported by some authors with the same strain.     

Age-dependent competition of porcine enterotoxigenic E. coli (ETEC) with different fimbria genes - short communication

To investigate the association of pathogenic Escherichia coli fimbrial adhesins with the development of diarrhoea in piglets of different age groups and to test their relative competitiveness, piglets were orally inoculated with a mixture of E. coli strains harbouring F4, F5, F6, F18 and F41 fimbrial genes. A total of 537 E. coli strains with haemolytic activity were isolated from 36 diarrhoeic piglets. The F4 fimbrial gene was observed in 98.5%, 97.6% and 80.6% strains carrying fimbrial genes isolated from diarrhoeic piglets that were infected at 1, 3 and 5 weeks of age, respectively. These data demonstrate that F4 fimbriae are highly associated with diarrhoea in piglets of all age groups. Interestingly, the F18 fimbrial gene was observed in 2.4% and 25.4% strains carrying fimbrial genes isolated from the 3- and 5-week-old groups, respectively, which confirms that F18 fimbriae are associated with diarrhoea in piglets from late stages of suckling to post-weaning, and are more related to diarrhoea in weaned than in unweaned piglets.     

Pharmacokinetics of amoxicillin after oral administration in recently weaned piglets with experimentally induced Escherichia coli subtype O149:F4 diarrhea

OBJECTIVE: To measure the effect of Escherichia coli subtype O149:F4-induced diarrhea on the pharmacokinetics of orally administered amoxicillin in affected piglets relative to that of uninfected piglets. ANIMALS: 22 healthy 4-week-old recently weaned Danish crossbred piglets. PROCEDURE: 12 piglets were orally inoculated through gastric intubation with 10(9) CFUs of an E. coli O149:F4 strain and responded by developing diarrhea 12 to 16 hours later. Piglets were dosed with amoxicillin trihydrate solution (20 mg/kg) by gastric intubation. A control group of 10 age-matched piglets without signs of diarrhea was dosed similarly. Blood samples were obtained before amoxicillin administration and at 0.5, 1, 1.5, 2, 3, 6, 12, and 24 hours after amoxicillin administration. The plasma concentration of amoxicillin was analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography. RESULTS: A significant 39% decrease in the area under the plasma concentration versus time curve of amoxicillin was observed in piglets with diarrhea relative to that of control piglets. The maximum plasma concentration (Cmax) was significantly (52%) lower in piglets with diarrhea, compared with control piglets, while the elimination rate constant, time to reach Cmax, and elimination half-life were unchanged. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Escherichia coli-induced diarrhea may decrease systemic bioavailability of amoxicillin. Escherichia coli bacteria attach to the intestinal epithelial cells. Because it is assumed that the concentration of the antimicrobial at the site of infection reflects the systemic concentration, higher doses of amoxicillin in the treatment of piglets with E. coli O149:F4-induced diarrhea may be appropriate.     

Isolation and association of Escherichia coli AIDA-I/STb, rather than EAST1 pathotype, with diarrhea in piglets and antibiotic sensitivity of isolates.

To identify emerging Escherichia coli that have the potential to cause diarrhea in pigs, the prevalence of E. coli pathotypes was determined among 170 and 120 isolates from diarrheic and nondiarrheic piglets, respectively. The isolates were tested for F4, F5, F6, F18, and F41 fimbriae, for E. coli attaching and effacing (EAE), porcine attaching and effacing-associated (Paa), and adhesin involved in diffuse adherence (AIDA-I) factors, for LT, STa, STb, and enteroaggregative heat-stable (EAST1) enterotoxins, and for Shiga toxins (Stxl, Stx2, and Stx2e), using DNA hybridization and polymerase chain reaction. All isolates were O-serotyped and tested for antibiotic resistance against 10 drugs. Seventeen different pathotypes, accounting for 40.0% of the isolates, were recovered from diarrheic piglets. The main pathotypes included EAST1 (13.5%), F4/LT/STb/EAST1 (6.5%), AIDA-I/STb/EAST1 (4.1%), F5/STa (2.9%), EAE/EAST1 (2.9%), and AIDA-I/F18 (2.3%). Only 3 pathotypes, EAE (11.7%), EAST1 (10.8%), and EAE/EAST1 (3.3%), were recovered from nondiarrheic piglets. Paa factor was detected in 8.8% and 7.5% of isolates from diarrheic and nondiarrheic piglets, respectively, and always was associated with other virulence determinants. Overall, 22.9% of isolates from diarrheic piglets appeared to be enteropathogens: enterotoxigenic E. coli (11.7%), enteropathogenic E. coli (3.5%), and E. coli isolates (3.0%) for which none of the above adherence factors was detected. Pathotypes AIDA-I/STb/EAST1 and AIDA-I/STb were isolated only from diarrheic piglets and accounted for 4.7% of isolates. Strains of these pathotypes induced diarrhea when inoculated into newborn colostrum-deprived pigs, in contrast to an isolate positive only for EAST1, which did not induce diarrhea. Antibiotic sensitivity test showed that isolates of the AIDA-I/STb/EAST1 and AIDA-I/STb pathotypes were the only strains sensitive to enrofloxacin, gentamicin, neomycin, and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole. This study showed that at least 20.5% of isolates from diarrheic piglets appeared to be associated with AIDA-I/STb pathotype and that EAST1 pathotype is probably not an important marker for diarrhea in piglets.     

Comparative virulence of NAD-dependent and NAD-independent Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae strains.

The virulence of a NAD-independent Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae serotype 2 strain and NAD-dependent serotype 2, 3 and 9 strains was compared under experimental conditions. Hysterectomy-derived piglets were inoculated endobronchially with 50-500 cfu of these strains. All 23 piglets inoculated with the NAD-dependent strains developed acute disease within 12 hours post inoculation. Twenty-two of these piglets died within 24 hours after the first clinical signs. Three of nine piglets inoculated with the NAD-independent strain did not develop clinical disease. In the other six piglets, disease signs were similar as in the piglets inoculated with the NAD-dependent strains. No differences in clinical disease were observed between colostrum deprived piglets and piglets that obtained colostrum from a SPF sow.     

The effect of dietary spray-dried porcine plasma on clinical response in weaned piglets challenged with a pathogenic Escherichia coli.

Weaned piglets were used to determine the effect of dietary spray-dried porcine plasma (SDPP) on the clinical response to an infection with a pathogenic Escherichia coli (E. coli) O139:K82 LT(-). The piglets were divided into two groups of 10 animals each. One group was fed the control diet containing soybean(meal) plus whey powder. The test piglets were fed a diet with 8% SDPP. Piglets were orally infected with the challenge strain on days 6 and 7 after weaning. The experimental period lasted 14 days after which the piglets were euthanised and necropsied. Faecal samples were collected daily for bacteriological analysis. Segments of jejunum, caecum and rectum were removed for bacteriological analysis post mortem. Feed intake and weight gain, faecal and condition scores and body temperature were measured daily. In the control and SDPP groups, 6 and 7 piglets died from diarrhoea. The average daily feed intake (ADFI) and average daily gain (ADG) were substantially higher in the SDPP group than in the control group. SDPP-fed piglets generally had a more favourable faecal score and a healthier appearance than did the control piglets. The faecal excretion of E. coli O139:K82 was similar for control and test piglets. There were no diet effects on the E. coli O139:K82 counts at different sites of the intestine. In this experiment, the inclusion of SDPP at an economically acceptable percentage in the diet could not prevent piglet losses due to challenge with a pathogenic E. coli, but improvements of ADG, ADFI and faecal and condition scores were achieved.     

High and low virulence Staphylococcus aureus strains in a rabbit skin infection model

In the present study, an in vivo rabbit skin infection model was developed to reproduce the lesions caused by high and low virulence Staphylococcus aureus strains from rabbits. "O"-shaped dermal skin lesions were induced on the shaved flanks of anaesthetised rabbits using a tattoo pin and pincers. The induced lesions on the flanks of four groups of 10 rabbits were then inoculated by topical application of 0.1 ml of 10(8)cfu S. aureus bacteria. One group was inoculated with a typical high virulence (HV) S. aureus strain from rabbits, one group received an atypical HV strain and two groups were inoculated with low virulence (LV) strains. Five animals were kept as negative controls. The development, appearance and size of abscesses were scored daily for a period of 2 weeks. The infection model showed reproducible results for the different S. aureus inoculation groups. Inoculation of the skin with the typical HV strain resulted in significantly larger abscesses than those caused by the LV strains. The atypical HV strain caused abscesses of a size intermediate to that obtained with the HV and LV strains. In rabbits infected with LV strains, most of the lesions had healed by day 14 post-inoculation. The devised infection model is able to reliably reproduce the virulence properties of HV and LV S. aureus strains.     

Avirulent K88 (F4)+ Escherichia coli strains constructed to express modified enterotoxins protect young piglets from challenge with a virulent enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli strain that expresses the same adhesion and enterotoxins

Virulence of enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) is associated with fimbrial adhesins and enterotoxins such as heat-labile (LT) and/or heat-stable (ST) enterotoxins. Previous studies using a cell culture model suggest that exclusion of ETEC from attachment to epithelial cells requires expression of both an adhesin such as K88 (F4) fimbriae, and LT. To test the ability of non-pathogenic E. coli constructs to exclude virulent ETEC sufficiently to prevent clinical disease, we utilized a piglet ETEC challenge model. Thirty-nine 5-day-old piglets were inoculated with a placebo (control), or with either of the three K88(+)E. coli strains isogenic with regard to modified LT expression: 8017 (pBR322 plasmid vector control), non-toxigenic mutant 8221 (LT(R192G)) in pBR322, or 8488, with the LT gene fused to the STb gene in pBR322 (LT(R192G)-STb). Piglets were challenged with virulent ETEC Strain 3030-2 (K88(+)/LT/STb) 24h post-inoculation. K88ac receptor-positive piglets in the control group developed diarrhea and became dehydrated 12-24h post-challenge. Piglets inoculated with 8221 or 8488 did not exhibit clinical signs of ETEC disease; most piglets inoculated with 8017 showed diarrhea. Control pigs exhibited significant weight loss, increased blood total protein, and higher numbers of colony-forming units of 3030-2 E. coli in washed ileum and jejunum than treated pigs. This study shows for the first time that pre-inoculation with an avirulent strain expressing adhesive fimbriae and a non-toxic form of LT provides significant short term protection from challenge with a virulent ETEC strain that expresses the same fimbrial adhesion and enterotoxin.