Evaluation of F18 enterotoxigenic <i>Escherichia coli</i> intestinal attachment and early disease onset in nursery pigs.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) is a major cause of post-weaning diarrhea and reduced performance in nursery pigs. While ETEC pathogenesis is well established, the early epithelial and functional responses to F18 ETEC infection remain poorly defined. This study investigated the effects of F18 ETEC on bacterial attachment, intestinal function, and early epithelial cell responses.

Methods

Ten days post-weaning, 24 individually housed pigs (n = 6/treatment) were orally inoculated with 5 ml of F18 ETEC at 10⁷, 10⁸, or 10⁹ colony-forming units (cfu)/ml, or with a negative control (NC). Over a 5-day post-inoculation period, fecal scores, body weight, and growth performance were recorded. Thereafter, pigs were humanely eu

SUBMITTER: Due EM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12728359 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature