Pathological and bacteriological characterization of neonatal porcine diarrhoea of uncertain aetiology.
Neonatal porcine diarrhoea of uncertain aetiology has been reported from a number of countries. This study investigated 50 diarrhoeic and 19 healthy piglets from 10 affected Swedish herds. The piglets were blood-sampled for analysis of serum γ-globulin and necropsied, and the intestines were sampled for histopathology and cultured for Escherichia coli, Clostridium perfringens and Clostridium difficile. Escherichia coli isolates (n = 276) were examined by PCR for virulence genes encoding LT, STa, STb, EAST1, VT2e, F4, F5, F6, F18, F41, AIDA-I, intimin, and for the genes aaiC and aggR. Selected isolates were analysed for additional virulence genes by a microarray and subjected to O-typing. Clostridium perfringens isolates (n = 152) were examined by PCR for genes encoding major toxins, enterotoxin and beta2-toxin. There was no difference in serum γ-globulin concentration between diarrhoeic and non-diarrhoeic piglets, and pathological lesions in the intestines were generally mild. Porcine enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli, a common cause of piglet diarrhoea, was only found in two piglets. Further, the virulence gene profiling did not suggest involvement of other diarrhoeogenic pathotypes of Escherichia coli. Growth of Clostridium perfringens did not differ between diarrhoeic and non-diarrhoeic piglets. All isolates were type A, all were negative for enterotoxin, and 151 of 152 isolates were beta2-toxin positive. In pigs ≥ 2  days old, moderate to profuse growth of Clostridium difficile was more common in the controls. In conclusion, it was not possible to relate Escherichia coli, Clostridium perfringens type A and C or Clostridium difficile to neonatal porcine diarrhoea in any of the investigated herds.
Department of Clinical Sciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, SE-75007 Uppsala, Sweden.
Jenny
J
Larsson
Department of Bacteriology, National Veterinary Institute, SE-75189 Uppsala, Sweden.
Anna
A
Aspán
Department of Biomedical Sciences and Veterinary Public Health, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, SE-75007 Uppsala, Sweden.
Ronny
R
Lindberg
Department of Biomedical Sciences and Veterinary Public Health, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, SE-75007 Uppsala, Sweden.
Rodrigo
R
Grandon
Department of Bacteriology, National Veterinary Institute, SE-75189 Uppsala, Sweden.
Viveca
V
Båverud
Department of Clinical Sciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, SE-75007 Uppsala, Sweden.
Nils
N
Fall
Department of Clinical Sciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, SE-75007 Uppsala, Sweden.
Magdalena
M
Jacobson
D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D016360:Clostridioides difficile / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D003016:Clostridium perfringens / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013552:Swine; D013553:Swine Diseases / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology*; D037521:Virulence Factors / Q000235:genetics
D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D037521:Virulence Factors