Escherichia coli challenge in newborn pigs

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Medicine
• Microbiology
• Animal Science

Background:

• Escherichia coli F18 causes diarrhea in weaned pigs, with pathogenesis linked to fimbria-receptor interactions.
• The α(1,2)-fucosyltransferase gene (FUT1) enzyme facilitates bacterial binding to the intestinal epithelium.
• FUT1 expression increases post-weaning, correlating with intestinal maturation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate if artificially reared piglets, lacking sow's milk, exhibit early-life susceptibility to E. coli F18.
• To evaluate the role of maternal milk and birth colonization in protecting against F18-induced diarrhea.

Main Methods:

• Quantitative real-time PCR was used to assess FUT1 expression in preterm, term, and weaned pigs.
• E. coli F18 susceptibility was tested in pigs aged 3, 10, and 20 days, and in caesarean-delivered piglets (0-7 days old).
• Sows were genotyped to confirm FUT1 enzyme expression in piglets.

Main Results:

• FUT1 expression was detected in all age groups, with no significant differences observed.
• Pigs aged 3-20 days did not show consistent F18-induced diarrhea.
• Caesarean-delivered piglets (0-7 days old) inoculated with E. coli F18 exhibited significantly higher diarrhea scores compared to controls.

Conclusions:

• Neonatal caesarean-delivered piglets, deprived of sow milk, are highly susceptible to E. coli F18 diarrhea.
• The absence of protective factors from birth colonization and sow milk likely contributes to increased F18 sensitivity.
• The newborn pig model is valuable for studying protective factors in maternal milk against F18 diarrhea.