title: Experimental infection with enteropathogenic Escherichia coli identified by PCR using enteric-coated capsules in boxer pups.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To verify the possibility of an experimental infection with enteropathogenic Escherichia coli and to confirm by PCR that the symptoms manifested after infection were due to the virulence factors of the studied bacteria.
  
  
  METHODS
  Experimental units were 14 healthy pups of Boxer breed, aged 60 days. The animals were divided into three groups. One animal from each litter was included in a control group and the remaining animals were divided into two groups: one inoculated with strain 4083, and another one inoculated with strain SPA14. Gelatinous capsules coated with enteric-coating solution were used for the inoculation of strains. E. coli isolation from feces was performed for all tested animals, and the extracted DNA was subjected to Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR).
  
  
  RESULTS
  All infected animals presented diarrhea and had the gene eae amplified by PCR.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The efficiency of PCR for the studied strains indicates that this technique can be recommended for the diagnosis of enteropathogenic Escherichia coli as a differential from other pathogens causing diarrhea. It may also be used in the future to verify whether other virulence factors (bfpA gene and EAF plasmid) persist after infection and to assess the pathogenicity of these bacteria.
authors: Postgraduate Program on Health and Development for the Central-West Region, UFMS, Campo Grande, MS, Brazil. saudeanimalms@terra.com.br
authors: Eliana Maria Ferreira
authors: EM
authors: Gouveia
authors: Iandara Schettert
authors: IS
authors: Silva
authors: Gerson
authors: G
authors: Nakazato
authors: Flábio Ribeiro de
authors: FR
authors: Araujo
authors: Marilene Rodrigues
authors: MR
authors: Chang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000382:microbiology; D004285:Dogs; D054308:Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000472:pathogenicity; D004927:Escherichia coli Infections / Q000382:microbiology*; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D037521:Virulence Factors / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D037521:Virulence Factors