Prevalence of enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli virulence genes from scouring piglets in Zimbabwe.
World-wide, enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) and verotoxigenic E. coli (VTEC)-induced diarrhea are economically important for porcine producers. Our aim was to investigate the prevalence of toxin and fimbrial genes among E. coli isolated from diarrheic piglets from randomly selected piggeries in Zimbabwe. We used multiplex PCR for screening STa, STb, LT, and Stx-2e toxins. Subsequently F4, F5, F6, F18 and F41 fimbriae genes were screened in toxin positive isolates. Toxin positive strains lacking tested fimbriae genes were characterized using transmission electron microscopy, agglutination and agglutination inhibition tests. Approximately 32% of the 1,984 isolates tested positive for STa, STb, LT or Stx-2e genes. Of these, approximately 81% had F4, F5, F6, F18 or F41 fimbriae genes. The remaining toxin positive strains lacked tested fimbriae genes and appeared to either express F1-like fimbriae, or lacked fimbriae. The data constitute an important framework for implementation of prevention measures, such as using relevant fimbriae-based vaccines against ETEC induced diarrhea or VTEC-induced edema.
Department of Microbiology and Plant Pathology, University of Pretoria, 0002, Pretoria, South Africa. evelyn.madoroba@gmail.com
Evelyn
E
Madoroba
Edilbert
E
Van Driessche
Henri
H
De Greve
Jan
J
Mast
Ignatious
I
Ncube
John
J
Read
Sonia
S
Beeckmans
D000372:Agglutination Tests; D000818:Animals; D017931:DNA Primers / Q000235:genetics; D004768:Enterotoxins / Q000235:genetics*; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000235:genetics* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D004927:Escherichia coli Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics / Q000662:veterinary*; D010861:Fimbriae, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D005798:Genes, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics*; D005838:Genotype; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D015995:Prevalence; D034421:Sus scrofa; D013552:Swine; D013553:Swine Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000382:microbiology*; D015030:Zimbabwe / Q000453:epidemiology
D017931:DNA Primers; D004768:Enterotoxins