Escherichia coli weaning

Edema disease in piglets, caused by ETEC, normally occurs after weaning. Acidic conditions in the GIT are known to have bactericidal effects on potentially harmful bacteria, as it is a more favorable environment for lactobacilli, which may inhibit the colonization and proliferation of Escherichia coli. Lactobacilli also produce metabolites against Gramnegative bacteria. Organic acids may also be applied to reduce coliform... 

Early attachment sites for shiga-toxigenic Escherichia coli 0157 H7 in experimentally inoculated weaned calves. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 74, 6378-6384. 

Tkalcic, S., Zhao, T., Harmon, B. G., Doyle, M. P., Brown, C. A., and Zhao, P. (2003). Fecal shedding of enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli in weaned calves following treatment with probiotic Escherichia coli. ]. Food Prot. 66,1184-1189. 

Escherichia coli is a gram-negative bacillus. Important strains of E. coli in animal production are K88, K99, 987P and F41. Infection in neonates is commonly caused by K88 and 987P strains, whereas post weaning colibacillosis is nearly always due to the impact of K88 strains. 

Heo, J.M., J.C. Kim, C.R Hansen, B.P Mullan, D.J. Hampson and J.R. Pluske, 2009 Feeding a diet with decreased protein content reduces indices of protein fermentation and the incidence of postweaning diarrhea in weaned pigs challenged with an enterotoxigenic strain of Escherichia coli. J. Anim. Sci. 87, 2833-2843. 

Wellock, I. J., P.D. Fortomaris, J.G.M. Houdijk and I. Kyriazakis, 2008a. The interaction between dietary protein supply, weaning age and enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli infection on the performance and health of newly weaned pigs Performance. Animal 2, 834-842. 

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