Postweaning diarrhea in swine: effects of oxytetracycline on enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli infection

Investigators have found that oxytetracycline decreases the adhesion of K88+ Escherichia coli to intestinal epithelial cells in vitro. This occurs with oxytetracycline-sensitive E coli at drug concentrations less than those required to prevent growth and with E coli that are resistant to the drug. We conducted experiments to determine whether oxytetracycline alters the disease caused by an oxytetracycline-resistant K88+ enterotoxigenic strain of E coli. Oxytetracycline-treated pigs (inoculated with K88+ E coli) did not differ from nontreated pigs in the incidence or severity of diarrhea, nor in the shedding of K88+ E coli. However, during recovery, weight gain by treated pigs was slower than that of nontreated pigs. The control pigs were not inoculated with E coli, and they remained clinically normal. Oxytetracycline-treated controls gained weight faster than nontreated controls. Some controls were genetically resistant to K88+ E coli, others were susceptible. The K88-resistant oxytetracycline-treated controls gained weight faster than the K88-susceptible oxytetracycline-treated and non-treated controls.     

Postweaning diarrhea in swine: experimental model of enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli infection

A reproducible model of postweaning colibacillosis was obtained by controlling management and environmental variables to simulate conditions often seen at weaning. Suckling pigs were exposed briefly to starter diet at 1 week of age, weaned at 3 weeks of age, held at an ambient temperature of 20 +/- 2 C, and again given the starter diet. One day after weaning, each pig was given 10(10) colony-forming units of enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli strain M1823B (O157:K88ac:H43-LT+ STb+) in broth containing 1.2% sodium bicarbonate via stomach tube. In vitro adhesion by strain M1823B to isolated intestinal branch borders was used to test pigs for susceptibility to K88. In this model, 3 syndromes were induced in susceptible pigs: (1) peracute fatal diarrhea; (2) moderate diarrhea, weight loss, and fecal shedding of the inoculum strain; and (3) no diarrhea, weight loss, and fecal shedding of the inoculum strain. Rotavirus particles were not found in fecal specimens of pigs with diarrhea. The K88-susceptible, noninoculated control pigs remained clinically normal. It was concluded that susceptibility to adhesion by K88+ enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli was a requirement for the production of disease in this model; inoculation with rotavirus was not necessary.     

Identification of atypical rotaviruses in outbreaks of preweaning and postweaning diarrhea in Québec swine herds.

Intestinal contents of diarrheic pigs from 120 outbreaks of diarrhea were examined for the presence of atypical rotaviruses. Pigs involved in these outbreaks were aged two days to five weeks and samples collected over a period of one year originated from different regions of the province of Québec. Samples were analyzed by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) for the presence of viral RNA and genome profiles were compared to those of porcine rotavirus A/OSU, B/Ohio and C/Cowden. Based on electropherotypes both typical (group A) and atypical (groups B and C) rotaviruses were identified. Rotaviruses could be demonstrated in 25.8% of outbreaks and together atypical rotaviruses accounted for 46.7% of rotavirus-positive outbreaks. Other common enteropathogens were often present in conjunction with rotaviruses in the preweaning and postweaning outbreaks studied.     

Effects of weaning on diarrhea caused by enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli in three-week-old pigs

We attempted to determine whether weaning is required for induction of diarrhea in pigs with postweaning enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli infection. Three-week-old newly weaned pigs and their suckling littermates were inoculated with the K88+ enterotoxigenic E coli strain M1823B. Fourteen of 21 weaned and 12 of 20 suckling pigs were genetically resistant to intestinal adhesion by the K88+ strain of E coli; they remained healthy, and gained weight at similar rates. Both groups of K88-resistant pigs gained weight faster, and shed fewer bacteria of strain M1823B in their feces, than did their K88-susceptible counterparts. Diarrhea developed in K88-susceptible pigs in the weaned (6 of 7 pigs) and suckling (4 of 8 pigs) groups, and 1 of the 4 affected suckling pigs died from complications resulting from diarrhea. The incidences of diarrhea, weight gain rates, and the numbers of strain M1823B shed in feces of susceptible weaned and suckling pigs were not significantly (P greater than 0.05) different. Diarrhea scores of susceptible weaned pigs were significantly (P less than 0.02) higher than those of susceptible suckling pigs on the second day after inoculation. In this experimental model, it was concluded that weaning is not required for induction of diarrhea, but may modestly increase its severity.     

Effects of diet complexity and dietary lactose levels during three starter phases on postweaning pig performance

Four experiments involving 1,005 crossbred pigs weaned at 19 +/- 2 d of age evaluated the effect of diet complexity and lactose level on starter pig performances. Experiment 1 was a randomized complete block (RCB) conducted in nine replicates with 135 pigs. A complex diet using several protein sources, a semicomplex diet with fewer protein sources, and a simple diet of corn and soybean meal comprised the three treatment groups. All diets contained 25% lactose (as-fed basis) with lysine (total) constant from d 0 to 14 (1.55%) and d 14 to 28 (1.45%), respectively. Gain, feed intake, and feed efficiency (P < 0.05) improved as diet complexity increased during both periods. In Exp. 2, 240 pigs in eight replicates in a RCB design were fed complex diets, but dietary lactose (total; as-fed basis) levels ranged from 10 to 35% in 5% increments from 0 to 14 d after weaning. From 14 to 30 d, a common 17% lactose diet was fed to evaluate the effects of early lactose level on subsequent responses. Gains (P < 0.05) increased for the 0- to 7- and 0- to 14-d periods as lactose increased to 30%. Similar gains resulted for all treatment groups from 14 to 30 d after weaning, with no evidence of compensatory responses to early lactose levels. In Exp. 3, 330 pigs were fed complex diets. From 0 to 7 d after weaning, the diets contained 25% lactose (as-fed basis), and from 7 to 21 d postweaning, the lactose levels ranged from 7 to 31% in 5% increments. Gain (P < 0.01) and feed efficiency (P < 0.05) increased from 7 to 21 d to the 17% lactose level. In Exp. 4, 300 pigs were fed 25 and 17% (as-fed basis) lactose diets from 0 to 7 and 7 to 21 d postweaning, respectively. From 21 to 35 d postweaning, lactose levels of 0 to 20% in 5% increments were added to a corn-soybean meal diet. The experiment was conducted as a RCB design in 12 replicates. Gain (P < 0.05) and feed intake (P < 0.05) increased to 10 to 15% lactose. When the data from Exp. 4 were partitioned into lighter (15.0 kg) and heavier (17.7 kg) pig weight replicates, only the lighter replicates had significant improvements in gain, feed intake, and feed efficiency (P < 0.05) in response to dietary lactose. These results demonstrated that starter pigs performed better when fed complex diets, that dietary lactose levels of 25 to 30% (to 7 kg BW) during the initial week postweaning, 15 to 20% lactose during d 7 to 21 (to 12.5 kg BW), and 10 to 15% lactose during d 21 to 35 postweaning (to 25 kg BW) resulted in maximum performance.     

Isolation of enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli from a foal with diarrhea

Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli was isolated from a 3-day-old foal with diarrhea. The isolate was distinguished from nonpathogenic E coli by determining the presence of pili and enterotoxin production. A standard slide agglutination test was performed, using pooled antisera that contained antibodies against K99 and F41 pilus antigens, K87 capsular antigen, and 0101 somatic antigen. Agglutination of the antisera occurred in the presence of the isolate. Piliation was verified by use of negative-contrast electron microscopy. Further, the isolate produced a heat-labile enterotoxin-like antigen that cross-reacted with a reagent containing formalin-treated, heat-killed Staphylococcus aureus (cowan 1 strain) bearing anti-cholera antibodies. On the basis of the aforementioned procedures and the absence of other identifiable enteric pathogens, we believe that E coli was responsible for causing diarrhea in the foal.     

Interaction with pig ileal explants of Escherichia coli O45 isolates from swine with postweaning diarrhea.

We have previously observed that Escherichia coli O45 isolates from swine postweaning diarrhea (PWD) induced attaching-effacing (A/E) lesions in experimentally inoculated gnotobiotic piglets. In the present work, ileal explant culture has been used as an in vitro model for the study of the development of A/E lesions due to these isolates. The characteristic intimate bacterial attachment and microvilli effacement with cupping and pedestal formation, identical to that observed in gnotobiotic piglets, was demonstrated in pig ileal explants inoculated with O45 E. coli isolates. The initial attachment of bacteria to the enterocytes was observed from 2 to 4 h postinoculation (PI) and full development of A/E lesions was observed within 8 h PI. In this model, we observed that 22 of 25 eaeA-positive O45 isolates induced A/E lesions. However, A/E lesions were not observed for any of 7 eaeA-negative O45 isolates. Thus, we describe a useful in vitro model for the study of A/E capacity of porcine E. coli. Use of this model has enabled us to demonstrate the relatedness of the eaeA gene to A/E capability among porcine O45 E. coli from PWD.     

Effects of an orally administered live Escherichia coli pilus vaccine on duration of lacteal immunity to enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli in swine

Primigravid swine were vaccinated orally with a live enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) strain that produces pilus antigen K99. The titers of K99 antibody in colostrum and milk of vaccinates remained higher than those of nonvaccinated controls through the first lactation after vaccination (4 weeks). Some control swine had low titers of K99 antibody in colostrum or developed low titers of K99 antibody in milk during lactation. Lacteal K99 antibody titers of vaccinates dropped to control levels during the second lactation, 6 months after vaccination. Pigs suckling vaccinates and controls were equally susceptible to challenge exposure to K99+ ETEC during the second lactation. Orally vaccinated swine given a parenteral booster vaccination (with killed K99+ ETEC) during their second gestation had K99 antibody in milk through their second lactation. During the second lactation, these orally vaccinated parenterally revaccinated swine had higher titers of K99 antibody in postcolostral milk than did nonvaccinated controls, controls given only the parenteral booster injection, or controls vaccinated parenterally during both gestations.     

Effect of Streptococcus faecium C-68 in control of Escherichia coli-induced diarrhea in gnotobiotic pigs

Streptococcus faecium was fed to prevent colibacillosis in gnotobiotic pigs. Three strains of Escherichia coli were used. With strain O:K103, 987P:NM in pigs fed S faecium before the E coli challenge exposure, the pigs exhibited less severe diarrhea, recovered earlier, and produced better weight gains than did pigs given E coli only. Escherichia coli strains O157:K88ac:H19 and O8:K87, K88ab:H19 were more virulent. Pigs fed S faecium and challenge exposed with these 2 strains of E coli developed mild diarrhea; however, none of the pigs died, and they continued to eat well and gained weight. Pigs given E coli only developed severe diarrhea and lost weight, and 5 of 8 infected pigs died. Bacterial counts of E coli and S faecium from 3 areas of the small intestine and the cecum were all comparable among experimental groups. Histopathologic examinations demonstrated abundant colonization of the intestinal tract with S faecium. Seemingly, S faecium reduced the toxic effects of E coli and prevented generalized infection and death.     

Development of a novel live vaccine delivering enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli fimbrial antigens to prevent post-weaning diarrhea in piglets

The efficacy of a novel, live delivery vaccine was examined for protection against post-weaning diarrhea in pigs. An expression/secretion plasmid harboring genes encoding enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli K88ab, K88ac, FedA and FedF fimbriae was constructed and harbored in an attenuated Salmonella, which was used as the vaccine candidate. Groups A (n=3) and B (n=3) sows were orally immunized with the candidate vaccine and PBS as a control, respectively, at 8 and 11 weeks of pregnancy. All group piglets were challenged with two challenge strains at 5-week-old. All immunized sows had significantly increased IgG and IgA levels in both serum and colostrum to individual adhesins compared to the control (p ≤ 0.05). Immune response in Group A piglets were significantly increased (p ≤ 0.05). Furthermore, no clinical signs were observed in Group A piglets after the challenge and no challenge strains were detected in rectal swabs, while diarrhea was observed in 47.8% control piglets and challenge strains were isolated from all the diarrheic piglets. These results show that immune response of sucking piglets can maintain at higher levels through the milk of the immunized sows and vaccination of sows with the candidate may protect colibacillosis in weaned piglets.     

Patterns of preweaning diarrhea in piglets on a central California ranch.

To determine risk factors for development of diarrhea in litters of preweaned piglets, data were analyzed from records of 4,397 litters of swine farrowed on a central California ranch 1978-1982. Sixty-four percent of litters were treated for diarrhea. Statistical analysis by multiple logistic regression showed that litters born to young sows (parity less than or equal to 2) were 1.7 times more likely to develop diarrhea before weaning than were litters born to older sows (parity greater than or equal to 3) and that litters born on one end of farrowing barns were 1.3 times more likely to develop diarrhea than were litters born in the other end. The association of diarrhea with other variables--dam breed, sire, gestation group, gestation length, size of litter, number of mummies, runts or stillbirths per litter, farrowing barn of birth or day of the week farrowed--was weak or nonexistent (P greater than 0.01).     

致犊牛腹泻肠毒素大肠杆菌多重PCR检测方法的建立

肠毒素大肠杆菌((Ent erot oxi geni c E.col i,ETEC)是引起犊牛腹泻的主要病原之一。本试验建立了多重PCR检测ETEC毒力因子F41菌毛、K99菌毛和STa、LT肠毒素相关基因的技术方法。试验对影响PCR扩增的dNTP、引物浓度以及退火温度等因素进行优化,确定了多重PCR的特异性和灵敏性。结果表明:所建立的多重PCR方法快速、特异、灵敏,在2.5h-3h内就可以完成,为致犊牛腹泻肠毒素大肠杆菌的快速准确检测提供另一种选择。     

The prevalence of enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli in the feces of calves with diarrhea.

A study was undertaken to determine the prevalence of enterotoxigenicity among Escherichia coli isolated from calves with diarrhea and from a control group of normal calves. The test organisms consisted of 200 E. coli recovered from scouring calves less than two weeks of age and 100 E. coli from normal calves. The enterotoxigenicity of the cultures was evaluated by three methods, namely, injection of ligated segments of piglet intestine, injection of ligated segments of calf intestine and oral inoculation of suckling mice. Live cutures of all the test organisms were used for the ligated intestine studies whereas sterile broth culture supernatants were used in the suckling mouse tests. Of the isolates from scouring calves, 36% were enterotoxigenic in the piglet intestine and 28% in the calf intestine. Amongst the isolates from normal calves, none was enterotoxigenic in the piglet intestine and one was enterotoxigenic in the calf test system. The ligated piglet intestine was considered unsuitable for determining the enterotoxigenicity of bovine E. coli, whereas the ligated calf intestine test was satisfactory and correlated completely with the suckling mouse test. The enterotoxigenic E. coli of bovine origin produced an enterotoxin that resembled the heat stable enterotoxin of typical porcine enteropathogenic E. coli.     

Effects of breed and wintering diet on heifer postweaning growth and development

Fifteen spring-born Angus (AN) and 25 Brangus (BN) weanling heifers were used in a 2x5 factorial arrangement of treatments to evaluate the effects of breed and postweaning winter diet on heifer growth and development. Dietary treatments were warm-season perennial grass hay (H), ammoniated H (AH), H plus .68 kg/d cottonseed meal (HP), H plus .45 kg/d cottonseed meal plus 1.37 kg/d ground corn (HPE) and HPE plus 200 mg/d monensin (HPEM). Mean initial weight and age for the 107-d feed trial were 207 kg and 270 d. Brangus had .06 kg greater (P less than .05) ADG than AN during the trial. Although digestible DM intake (DDMI) relative to body weight was greater (P less than .10) for AN than for BN, ADG:DDMI was greater (P less than .05) for BN than for AN. Heifers fed H and AH lost weight, but heifers fed AH had 50% (P less than .05) less daily weight loss than those fed H. Daily gain increased (P less than .05) incrementally in response to sequential supplement additions of cottonseed meal (AH vs HP; -.10 vs .17 kg), ground corn (HP vs HPE; .17 vs .29 kg) and monensin (HPE vs HPEM; .29 vs .39 kg). Hay DM intake relative to body weight and DDMI were increased (P less than .01) by ammoniation. Intake did not differ between HPE and HPEM. Diet affected age at puberty (P less than .05), which decreased with increased dietary components. Weight differences among diet groups following the winter feed trial were largely eliminated prior to breeding. Nevertheless, H- and AH-fed heifers collectively weighed less (P less than .01) prior to breeding than did heifers of supplemented diet groups. Reproductive development tended to be adversely affected by weight loss during the postweaning period.     

Study of porcine postweaning diarrhea involving K88(-) hemolytic Escherichia coli

The onset of fecal shedding, serogroup involvement, and association of hemolytic Escherichia coli with the postweaning diarrhea syndrome were studied in swine. The only E coli O antigen, detected by slide agglutination with the antisera used, was O157; K antigens were not detected. The ligated intestinal loop test (LILT) was used for enterotoxigenicity testing. All O157 serogroup isolates (n = 9) were hemolytic, and 89% (8 of 9) were LILT positive. Of all hemolytic isolates tested, 59% (10 of 17) were LILT positive. Twenty-seven nonhemolytic isolates were tested for enterotoxigenicity; of these, 45% (12) were LILT positive. The onset of postweaning diarrhea coincided with the modal onset of hemolytic E coli shedding at postweaning day 7. At postweaning day 7, hemolytic E coli shedding was concurrently associated with diarrhea (P less than 0.0005), whereas later during the postweaning period, this was not the situation.     

Efficacy of initial postweaning diet and supplemental coconut oil or soybean oil for weanling swine

Two experiments involving a total of 581 crossbred pigs weaned at 23 +/- 2 d of age evaluated 1) the efficacy of two diets that contained milk products during the initial 14 d postweaning and 2) the effect of coconut oil or soybean oil additions to swine starter diets. In Exp. 1, postweaning performance responses of pigs fed a control corn-soybean meal-dried whey (C-SBM-DW) diet without added fat were compared with those of pigs consuming diets that contained 3, 6, or 9% levels of coconut oil or degummed soybean oil. The results demonstrated no beneficial weight gain, feed intake, or gain-to-feed ratio response during the initial 14 d postweaning to either dietary oil source. From 15 to 35 d, gains increased to the 6% added fat level, but there was no effect on feed intake when the gain-to-feed ratio was improved to the 9% fat level. In Exp. 2, two diets containing milk products were fed during the initial 14-d postweaning period. The first diet contained corn, soybean meal, dried whey, dried skim milk, and fishmeal (high nutrient dense diet, HNDD), and the second was a C-SBM diet with 25% dried whey. During the period from 15 to 35 d, diets contained no added fat or a 6% level of coconut oil, soybean oil, or the 1:1 combination of each at 3%. The results demonstrated that for the postweaning period from 0 to 14 d pigs fed the HNDD had higher gains (P less than .01), feed intakes (P less than .01), and gain-to-feed ratios (P less than .01) than pigs fed the C-SBM-DW diet.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

一规模化猪场断奶仔猪腹泻大肠杆菌毒力因子的检测

从疑似断奶仔猪腹泻的仔猪中分离、鉴定出15株病原性大肠杆菌。经O血清型鉴定,11株为0131、4株未定型,所有O131血清型菌株呈β溶血。多重PCR检测毒素基因(STa、STb、LT、SLT-2e)和大肠杆菌粘附素单抗(F4、F5、F6、F41、F18)检测菌毛,O131菌株的毒素为STa、STb、SLT-2e,表达F18粘附素,未定型菌株的毒素为STa,共表达F6和F18粘附素。对15株大肠杆菌用16种抗生素进行药敏试验,结果表明:分离株对阿米卡星、痢特灵、新霉素敏感,而对多种抗生素产生了不同程度的耐药性。运用本场大肠杆菌分离株灭活苗免疫猪群,取得良好效果。     

Effect of diet composition on postweaning colibacillosis in piglets

The weaning of piglets is often associated with digestive disorders, particularly diarrhea--postweaning colibacillosis (PWC)--which is caused by infection with enterotoxigenic strains of Escherichia coli. It has been shown previously that a diet for newly weaned pigs based on cooked white rice and animal protein decreases the occurrence of PWC, whereas the addition of carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) to this diet enhances PWC. The aims of the current work were to 1) determine whether substitution of animal protein with plant proteins in the cooked-white-rice diet influenced its protective effects on PWC and 2) confirm that an increase in viscosity of the digesta by adding CMC to the diet favors the development of PWC--with (Exp. 1) or without (Exp. 2) experimental infection of piglets with E. coli. The diets were 1) cooked white rice and animal protein sources (RAP), 2) RAP + CMC added at 40 g of CMC/kg (air-dry basis) of diet, 3) cooked white rice and plant protein sources (RPP), and 4) wheat and plant protein sources (WPP). Experiments 1 and 2 were conducted using 32 and 24 piglets (eight and six per treatment), respectively. Piglets were weaned at 21 d (d 1), and fed ad libitum until slaughter on d 9. In Exp. 1, piglets were orally infected with enterotoxigenic E. coli on d 4, 5, 6, and 7. On d 8 of Exp. 1, the E. coli scores in feces of pigs fed RAP + CMC were higher than with RAP (P < 0.01). On d 9 after weaning, feces from pigs fed diet RAP were normal or moist, whereas feces from pigs fed RAP + CMC were wet to diarrheic. On d 7 of Exp. 2, pigs fed diets RAP + CMC and WPP had wetter feces than pigs fed diets RAP or RPP (P < 0.05). On d 8, the E. coli scores in feces were higher (P < 0.01) with pigs fed RAP + CMC than with all other diets. The E. coli scores in the digesta were also higher with pigs fed RAP + CMC, and to a lesser extent with diet WPP, than with pigs fed RAP or RPP (P < 0.01). The large intestine was heavier in pigs fed diets RPP and WPP, and the digesta were more acidic (P < 0.05). This study confirmed that diet RAP was protective against PWC, and that substitution of animal proteins with plant protein in a rice-based diet did not diminish its protective effects. The addition of CMC to cooked white rice increased digesta viscosity and enhanced PWC. Consequently, this diet represents a useful model for studying this condition.     

Influence of preweaning nutrition on growth of Angus calves provided a postweaning nutritional system resulting in discontinuous growth

Postweaning growth patterns and preweaning milk and forage intake were observed over a 4-yr period for 137 Angus calves allowed either fescue-legume or fescue pastures preweaning. After weaning, calves grazed fescue pasture until spring for a slow growth phase and then fescue, orchard grass, bluegrass and ladino clover pastures for 4 mo. Following this period, the calves were confined and fed shelled corn and a 36% crude protein supplement until they reached 12 mm of fat over the 12th rib. The spring growing period and the finishing period were classified as a rapid growth phase. Calves that were fatter at weaning lost more fat, but gained more in wither height during the slow growth phase, than those that were thinner at weaning. Apparently, fatter calves were more capable of continuous skeletal growth on a low plane of nutrition because they could retrieve fat energy for this growth. In spring, calves that had been relatively fat at weaning held no advantage in fatness, but had larger frames. Therefore, during the rapid growth phase, they were able to fatten more rapidly than those that were thinner at weaning. Also, calves that were more efficient in preweaning growth had more capacity for rapid postweaning growth when restricted to relatively low quality pasture. Preweaning pasture type influenced pattern of postweaning growth. Part of this influence was associated with differences detected at weaning. An additional part was associated with efficiency of forage and milk utilization during the preweaning phase.