Colibacillosis in pigs: vaccinate or medicate?

摘要

Colibacillosis is an infection of the bacterium Echerichia coli (E. coli), and although it is harmlessly found in the gut of pigs, some strains cause disease — in particular, haemolytic E. coli, and specifically, enterotoxigenic E. coli (ETEC). Thesestrains use fimbriae (long, thin appendages of bacteria) to attach to the gut wall, binding to specific receptors on the small intestine enterocytes. This enables the bacteria to colonize the gut andsecrete enterotoxins. It is these that affect gut function, leading to diarrhea, dehydration, potentially septicemia and death. Piglets become infected through the environment, other scouring piglets and, most importantly, the sow herself. This is because close to farrowing time, sows excrete E. coli at a greater rate.