A comprehensive study of 132 Escherichia coli isolates from 150 piglets with colibacillosis included detection of heat-labile enterotoxin, heat-stable enterotoxin, and identification of K88 (F4), K99 (F5), 987P (F6), and F41. Four pili were examined by haemagglutination and slide agglutination test. Heat-labile (LT) and heat-stable (ST) enterotoxin was determined by reverse passive latex agglutination and precipitation test, respectively. Among 132 E coli isolates, 26 had K88 (19.7%), 16 had K99 (12.1%), 3 had 987P (2.3%), and 2 had F41 (1.5%). Three had K88 and K99 (2.3%), 3 had K88 and 987P (2.3%), 2 had K99 and 987P (1.5%), 5 had K99 and F41 (3.8%), and 8 E coli strains had K88, K99 and F41 (6.1%) simultaneously. Among 132 E coli isolates, 5 produced LT only (3.8%), 55 produced heat-stable toxin ST only (41.7%), and 4 produced both LT and ST (3.0%). Three major pathotypes accounted for 27.9% of E coli isolates: K99^+ (8.3%), K88^+ST^+ (9%) and K88^+ (10.6%). Results of this study indicated that piliated
enterotoxin-producing E coli was prevalent and was associated with diarrhea in preweaning piglets.
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