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Trop Anim Health Prod (2009) 41:15391547 DOI 10.1007/s11250-009-9345-4
ORIGINAL PAPER
Prevalence of enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli virulence genes from scouring piglets in Zimbabwe
Evelyn Madoroba & Edilbert Van Driessche &
Henri De Greve & Jan Mast & Ignatious Ncube &
John Read & Sonia Beeckmans
Accepted: 23 March 2009 /Published online: 4 April 2009 # Springer Science + Business Media B.V. 2009
Abstract 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.
Keywords Enterotoxigenic E. coli . Neonatal scours . Toxin genes . Fimbriae genes
Introduction
Enterotoxigenic E. coli (ETEC)-induced diarrhea poses negative economic implications in the pig industry due to high mortality and reduced growth
E. Madoroba (*)
Department of Microbiology and Plant Pathology, University of Pretoria,0002 Pretoria, South Africae-mail: [email protected]
E. Van Driessche : S. BeeckmansLaboratory of Protein Chemistry, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Pleinlaan 2,1050 Brussel, Belgium
H. De GreveLaboratory of Ultrastructure, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Pleinlaan 2,1050 Brussel, Belgium
J. MastUnit Electron Microscopy,Veterinary and Agrochemical Research Institute, Groeselenberg 99,1080 Brussels, Belgium
I. NcubeDepartment of Biochemistry Microbiologyand Biotechnology, School of Molecular and Life Sciences, University of Limpopo,P.Bag X1106,Sovenga 0727, South Africa
J. ReadDepartment of Biochemistry and Applied Biology, National University of Science and Technology, P.O. Box AC939, Ascot, Bulawayo, Zimbabwe
1540 Trop Anim Health Prod (2009) 41:15391547
rate (Zhang et al. 2007). Such type of diarrhea...