Detection of enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli in piggeries in Victoria by DNA hybridisation using K88, K99, LT, ST1 and ST2 probes.
Rectal swabs collected from piglets with diarrhoea from commercial pig farms were examined for the presence of enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) using DNA hybridisation methods. The probes specifically detected genes for the K88 and K99 fimbrial antigens and the heat-labile and heat-stable enterotoxins. DNA hybridisation methods detected more ETEC than could be detected by either enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) or slide agglutination methods, and also offered the opportunity to test for fimbrial antigens and toxins concurrently. The DNA hybridization method was shown to be applicable to ETEC detection in mixed growths cultured directly from rectal swabs to filters. The method eliminates the need for toxin tests using animals and enables very large numbers of samples to be investigated. The use of toxin probes has revealed large numbers of ETEC with uncharacterized fimbrial antigens.
Monckton
R P
RP
Department of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Regional Veterinary Laboratory, Bendigo, Victoria, Australia.
Hasse
D
D
D000372:Agglutination Tests; D000818:Animals; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics*; D000954:Antigens, Surface / Q000235:genetics; D001427:Bacterial Toxins / Q000235:genetics; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis*; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary; D004768:Enterotoxins / Q000235:genetics*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D004927:Escherichia coli Infections / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary; D029968:Escherichia coli Proteins; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology; D036781:Fimbriae Proteins; D006388:Hemagglutinins / Q000235:genetics; D009693:Nucleic Acid Hybridization; D013552:Swine; D013553:Swine Diseases / Q000382:microbiology
D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D000954:Antigens, Surface; D001427:Bacterial Toxins; D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D004768:Enterotoxins; D029968:Escherichia coli Proteins; D006388:Hemagglutinins; C026888:K88 antigen, E coli; C031429:K99 antigen; C034151:heat stable toxin (E coli); D036781:Fimbriae Proteins; C027538:heat-labile enterotoxin, E coli