Different kinetic of antibody responses following infection of newly weaned pigs with an F4 enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli strain or an F18 verotoxigenic Escherichia coli strain.
To develop a vaccine against Escherichia coli-induced post-weaning diarrhea and edema disease, insights in the induction of the protective immune response following infection with these pathogenic E. coli is needed. Therefore, the fimbriae-specific antibody response of newly weaned pigs following infection with the Shiga-like toxin type II variant (SLT-IIv) producing F18(+) verotoxigenic E. coli (VTEC) (strain 107/86) was compared with the response following an infection with LT producing F4(+) enterotoxigenic E. coli (ETEC) (strain GIS 26). F4(+) ETEC were able to colonize the gut very soon after infection, as peak excretion of F4(+) E. coli bacteria was seen 2 days post-infection (dpi), but had already disappeared 7dpi. On the other hand, F18(+) VTEC infection resulted in a slower colonization of the gut as the peak excretion of F18(+) E. coli was observed between 3 and 5dpi, but this colonization remained longer as F18(+) E. coli were detected till 9dpi in feces. Furthermore, this fast colonization pattern of F4(+) ETEC is accompanied with the presence of F4-specific antibodies in mucosal tissues and serum from 4dpi onward, with maximal amounts of F4-specific IgA in the jejunal lamina propria and serum 7dpi. In contrast, F18-specific IgA was only readily detected in the jejunal lamina propria 15dpi and showed a maximum serum titer 21dpi. Besides this faster induction and higher antibody response, the switch from IgM to IgA and IgG was also earlier following the F4(+) ETEC infection.
Laboratory of Veterinary Immunology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Salisburylaan 133, B-9820 Merelbeke, Belgium. frank.verdonck@rug.ac.be
F
F
Verdonck
E
E
Cox
K
K
van Gog
Y
Y
Van der Stede
L
L
Duchateau
P
P
Deprez
B M
BM
Goddeeris
D000818:Animals; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000097:blood; D001422:Bacterial Adhesion; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000254:growth & development / Q000276:immunology* / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D004927:Escherichia coli Infections / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology; D029968:Escherichia coli Proteins / Q000276:immunology; D036781:Fimbriae Proteins / Q000276:immunology; D018928:Immunity, Mucosal; D007070:Immunoglobulin A / Q000096:biosynthesis; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology; D007700:Kinetics; D013045:Species Specificity; D034421:Sus scrofa
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D029968:Escherichia coli Proteins; C113053:FedA protein, E coli; D007070:Immunoglobulin A; D036781:Fimbriae Proteins