title: Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) in swine: prevalence over the finishing period and characteristics of the STEC isolates.
abstract: This descriptive longitudinal study was conducted to investigate the faecal shedding of Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) in finishing swine and to characterize the swine STEC isolates that were recovered. Three cohorts of finishing swine (n = 50/cohort; total 150 pigs) were included in the longitudinal study. Individual faecal samples were collected every 2 weeks (8 collections/pig) from the beginning (pig age 10 weeks) to the end (pig age 24 weeks) of the finishing period. STEC isolates were recovered in at least one sample from 65·3% (98/150) of the pigs, and the frequency distribution of first-time STEC detection during the finishing period resembled a point-source outbreak curve. Nineteen O:H serotypes were identified among the STEC isolates. Most STEC isolates (n = 148) belonged to serotype O59:H21 and carried the stx 2e gene. One O49:H21 STEC isolate carried the stx 2e and eae genes. High prevalence rates of STEC during the finishing period were observed, and STEC isolates in various non-O157 serogroups were recovered. These data enhance understanding of swine STEC epidemiology, and future research is needed to confirm whether or not swine STEC are of public health concern.
authors.affiliation: College of Veterinary Medicine,Michigan State University,East Lansing, MI,USA.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tseng
authors.affiliation: Eastern Regional Research Centre,Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Wyndmoor, PA,USA.
authors.forename: P M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Fratamico
authors.affiliation: Eastern Regional Research Centre,Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Wyndmoor, PA,USA.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bagi
authors.affiliation: Eastern Regional Research Centre,Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Wyndmoor, PA,USA.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Manzinger
authors.affiliation: College of Veterinary Medicine,Michigan State University,East Lansing, MI,USA.
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Funk
mesh_terms: D018829:Adhesins, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D000818:Animals; D004927:Escherichia coli Infections / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D029968:Escherichia coli Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology*; D005838:Genotype; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D015995:Prevalence; D065288:Serogroup; D022621:Shiga Toxin / Q000235:genetics; D054323:Shiga-Toxigenic Escherichia coli / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D013552:Swine; D013553:Swine Diseases / Q000382:microbiology*
chemical_list: D018829:Adhesins, Bacterial; D029968:Escherichia coli Proteins; C073819:eaeA protein, E coli; D022621:Shiga Toxin
keywords: Epidemiology; Shiga-like toxin-producing E. coli; longitudinal; serotype; swine