Identification of serotype by use of serologic assay and detection of the enterotoxin gene of Escherichia coli by means of a polymerase chain reaction assay for isolates from pigs, chickens, and cows.
OBJECTIVE
To serotype an enterotoxin gene from Escherichia coli isolated from cows, pigs, and chickens in Korea.


METHODS
Isolates from 37 cows with mastitis, 51 diarrheic pigs, and 5 diarrheic chickens.


METHODS
Serogroups and serotypes were identified by slide agglutination testing, using pathogenic E coli sera. Detection of E coli enterotoxins by use of reversed passive latex agglutination and ELISA was compared by proving existence of the gene by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis.


CONCLUSIONS
Detection of E. coli enterotoxin by either method was positive for 1 strain (O20:H10; heat-labile enterotoxin [LT+], heat-stable enterotoxin [STa+]; isolation rate, 2%) and 3 other strains (O111:H10, O119:H9, and O125:H6, STa+; isolation rate, 5.9%) isolated from fecal specimens obtained from diarrheic pigs. The E coli enterotoxin genes were identified by use of PCR analysis in 1 strain containing the 417- and 163-base pair (bp) genes (LT+, Sta+; O20:H10) and in 3 strains containing only the 163-bp gene (STa+; O111:H10, O119:H9, and O125:H6).


CONCLUSIONS
Serotyping of E coli enterotoxin may be used to analyze patterns of transmission among species of domestic animals.
Jung
H K
HK
Department of Food and Nutrition, Songwon College, Republic of Korea, South Korea.
D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle / Q000382:microbiology*; D002645:Chickens / Q000382:microbiology*; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary; D004768:Enterotoxins / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000662:veterinary; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000145:classification*; D007841:Latex Fixation Tests / Q000662:veterinary; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000662:veterinary; D012703:Serotyping / Q000662:veterinary*; D013552:Swine / Q000382:microbiology*
D004768:Enterotoxins