Detection of toxin genes in Escherichia coli isolated from normal dogs and dogs with diarrhea.

The etiology of acute, nonviral diarrhea in dogs is poorly understood. Enterotoxigenic and verotoxigenic Escherichia coli are causal agents of diarrhea in humans, pigs, and cattle, but the association of these toxigenic E. coli with diarrhea in dogs has not been explored to a significant extent. In this study, DNA hybridization and PCR amplification were used to identify the frequency with which the genes for E. coli enterotoxins (STap, STb, and LTI) and verotoxins (VT1 and VT2) occur in association with diarrhea in dogs. Genes for VT1 (8.9%), VT2 (22.2%), STa (26.7%), and STb (4.4%) were identified in E. coli cultured from feces of 20 of 45 dogs (44.4%) with diarrhea. Genes for VT2, STa, and STb were not identified in feces from normal dogs. Genes for VT1 were observed in similar proportions in fecal samples from diarrheic (8.9%) and normal (12.3%) dogs. Heat labile enterotoxin (LTI) was not detected in fecal samples from either diarrheic or normal dogs. Our results suggest that heat stable enterotoxins and VT2 may be causally associated with diarrhea in dogs. Dogs appear to be able to carry VT1-producing E. coli without showing overt signs of disease.     

Field trials of a formulation containing moxidectin and 6 in 1 vaccines for sheep

Objective: To assess the efficacy and safety of a formulation containing moxidectin and 6 in 1 vaccine in sheep under field conditions.
Design: Efficacy and safety study.
Animals: Two hundred and five crossbred Merino lambs and two hundred and eight Merino ewes were used in the studies.
Procedure: A formulation was made for the simultaneous treatment of sheep with moxidectin and immunisation against clostridial diseases and caseous lymphadenitis. The efficacy against nematodes, vaccine response and safety were assessed.
Results: Effective control of nematodes and responses to antigens were achieved following subcutaneous administration. The formulation was safe to administer; occasional minor tissue reactions were evident, but no other adverse effects of treatment were observed in either pregnant ewes or lambs, using either the recommended dose, or an overdose of the formulation.
Conclusion: Administration of a formulation containing moxidectin, five clostridial antigens and caseous lymphadenitis antigen proved safe and efficacious under field conditions.     

In vivo transfer of an Escherichia coli enterotoxin plasmid possessing genes for drug resistance.

Experiments were conducted to study transfer of an enterotoxin (Ent) plasmid from a porcine enteropathogenic Escherichia coli to an E coli K12 strain in the intestine of newly weaned pigs. The Ent plasmid carried genes for resistance to tetracycline, streptomycin, and sulfonamides, thereby permitting a selection for tetracycline-resistant exconjugants in the feces of the pigs. In vivo transfer of the Ent plasmid was demonstrated to occur when the pigs were given large oral inocula of donor and recipient cultures, 1 hour apart. Differences in extent of transfer were not detected in pigs given antibiotic-free feed compared with littermates on feed containing oxytetracycline at 50 g/ton. In one experiment, tetracycline-resistant Ent- exconjugants were found which appeared to have received an R plasmid from an enteropathogenic type of E coli resident in the intestine.