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Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica logoLink to Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica
. 1986 Jun 1;27(2):235–242. doi: 10.1186/BF03548167

Fimbriae in Escherichia Coli Isolated from the Small Intestine of Piglets

Fimbrier hos Escherichia coli isolert fra tynntarmen hos spedgris

Berit Κ Djønne 1,, Eivind Liven 1
PMCID: PMC8189381  PMID: 2879432

Abstract

Ninety E. coli strains, isolated from piglets which had died from neonatal diarrhea, were tested for the presence of K88, K99, 987P and type 1 fimbriae. Two or more types of fimbriae were demonstrated in 14 of the strains, a single fimbria! type in 44 strains while in 32 strains no fimbriae were detected. Of the 14 E. coli strains with more than 1 type of fimbriae, 12;, 10, 8 and 4 strains showed K88, K99, 987P and type 1, respectively.

Twelve E. coli strains were isolated from piglets which had died in the neonatal period without showing signs of neonatal diarrhea at necropsy. One strain showed 987P and 3 strains showed type 1 fimbriae, while the remaining 8 strains were unfimbriated.

Sixteen fimbriated E. coli strains were subcultured in order to examine the stability of fimbrial expression in the strains. The K88 and the type 1 fimbriae were regularly expressed, while the K99 and 987P were inconsistently demonstrated.

Keywords: pili, K-antigens, adhesins, neonatal diarrhea

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Acknowledgments

The excellent technical assistance of Tove Nilsen is highly appreciated.

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