Comparative prevalence of four enterotoxin genes among Escherichia coli isolated from swine

Presence of Escherichia coli enterotoxin genes LT (heat-labile enterotoxin), STaP (heat-stable enterotoxin a, porcine genotype), STaH (heat-stable enterotoxin a, human genotype), and STb (heat-stable enterotoxin b) among 874 swine isolates of E coli was determined, using DNA probes and the DNA colony hybridization technique. Of the 874 isolates evaluated, 45% hybridized with at least one of the enterotoxin gene probes and were designated as enterotoxigenic E coli (ETEC). Eighty-five percent of the ETEC were from pigs with enteric colibacillosis. The remaining 15% were from pigs with edema disease or various other diseases, and from healthy swine. Seventy-four percent of the ETEC hybridized with the STb probe, 52% with STaP, and 31% with LT; ETEC did not hybridize with the STaH probe. Most of the ETEC hybridized with more than one enterotoxin gene probe. Isolates that hybridized with the LT probe also hybridized with STb. The most prevalent gene combination was LT-STb. However, 35% of the ETEC from neonatal (less than or equal to 1 week old) swine with enteric colibacillosis were of the STaP-only genotype, and 33% of the ETEC from older swine with enteric colibacillosis were of the STb-only genotype.