Prevalence of (high-pathogenicity island) HPI-harboring Escherichia coli in diarrheic and healthy piglets

Abstract

One hundred and sixty four rectal swab samples were collected from 110 live diarrheic piglets and 54 healthy piglets
during an investigation on the prevalence of HPI-harboring Escherichia coli (HPI + E. coli) infection associated with
porcine diarrhea. The data of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) revealed the presence of HPI + E. coli in 58.18% of swabs
taken from diarrheic piglets, while 44.44% of samples taken from healthy pigs were so positive. Further PCR examination
of 600 bacterial isolates from diarrheic samples revealed that 25 isolates were HPI + E. coli while 4 (16%) were F4+
, 2 (8%)
were F4+
and F6+
, 2 (8%) were F4+
and F6+
, and one (4%) was F6+
, LTa+
and STb+
. Among the 480 bacterial isolates from
non-diarrheic samples, 20 isolates were HPI + E. coli, and only one (5%) was LTa+
and STb+
, while absence of isolates
belonging to the F4+
and F6+
groups was noted. O138 was the vast prevalent serotype among the HPI +E. coli isolates. It
is suggested that HPI + E. coli maybe an opportunistic pathogen in swine.