Colibacillosis
See also: Oedema disease, Scouring
Diagnosis
Bacterial evidence of Escherichia coli enteritis, enterotoxaemia or septicaemia. Demonstration of pathogenic strains of E. coli.
Specimens required
- Preferably the whole animal submitted chilled.
- Sections of liver, kidney, jejunum, colon and mesenteric lymph nodes, submitted chilled, for bacteriology.
- Sections of lung, liver, kidney, small intestine and mesenteric lymph node submitted in buffered formalin for histopathology.
- In animals showing nervous signs, brain submitted in buffered formalin for histopathology.
Interpretation of results
E. Coli serotypes commonly associated with Colibacillosis in pigs in NSW
- 0149:K91,K88ac:H10
- 0141:K85ac:H4 or HNM
- 0141:K85ab:H4 or HNM
- 08:K87,K88ac:H19 or HNM
These serotypes are associated with:
- Neonatal mortality: (a), (d)
- Neonatal diarrhoea:(a), (d)
- Weaner mortality: (a), (b), (c), (d)
- Weaner nervous signs: (b), (c)
- Weaner oedema disease: (b), (c)
- Weaner diarrhoea: (a), (b), (c), (d)
Poultry
There is no real information on the prevalence of pathogenic serogroups in poultry in Australia. Typing of poultry clinical isolates is not being undertaken at this time.