Prevalence of Enterotoxigenic Escherichia Coli Pathotypes and Virotypes Isolated from Piglets Suffering from Post-Weaning Diarrhea in Belgium and the Netherlands

Abstract Post-weaning diarrhea (PWD) in pigs is a worldwide economically important disease characterized by reduced pig performance. Although relevant, recent data on prevalence of virulence genes and pathotypes in Belgium and The Netherlands are relatively scarce. The present study investigated the prevalence of fimbrial and toxin genes of E. coli using PCR in 539 PWD-affected farms in Belgium and The Netherlands. A total of 1404 samples were collected at early onset of PWD and submitted for diagnostic examination. Following standard bacteriological isolation of E. coli , PCR analysis was per... Mehr ...