Biotypes of enteropathogenic Escherichia coli strains from rabbits

Forty-five enteropathogenic (enteropathogenic Escherichia coli-like) strains isolated in commercial rabbit farms were subdivided into four biotypes with the help of six carbohydrate fermentation tests, ornithine decarboxylase tests, and motility tests. E. coli strains which caused neonatal diarrhea in baby rabbits belonged to a single biotype, biotype 1, and displayed the same serotype antigens. Biotype 2 strains provoked diarrhea of variable severity in weaned rabbits and were also pathogenic for baby rabbits under laboratory conditions. Biotype 1 and biotype 2 strains resembled each other in many respects. Biotype 3 and biotype 4 (represented by a single strain) were highly pathogenic for weaned rabbits, but they provoked no symptoms or lesions in baby rabbits. Biotype 3 formed a homogeneous group of nonmotile strains which possessed the O15 antigen. Forty-two strains from nondiarrheic rabbits constituted a very heterogeneous collection of biotypes, most of which could easily be differentiated from the pathogenic types. Biotyping can be used to recognize rabbit pathogenic strains.