Detection of enterotoxigenicity and attachment factors in Escherichia coli strains of human, porcine and bovine origin; a comparative study.

Porcine and bovine strains of E. coli suspected to be enterotoxigenic, were tested for heat-labile enterotoxin (LT) production by means of a test measuring the stimulation of the synthesis of 3151 cyclic adenosin monophosphate (cAMP test) and rounding mouse adrenal tumor Y1 cells (Y1 test), and for heat-stable enterotoxin (ST) production by means of the baby mouse test (BM test). The test results were compared with those of the ligated gut test (LG test) using pig and calf intestine. One hundred and eleven strains of human origin were tested in the cAMP test, the Y1 test and the BM test. All strains were tested for the presence of the attachment factors K88, K99, P987 and CF10407. Seventy-four of 117 bovine strains produced only ST and all 74 ST-producing strains possessed K99 antigen. None of the 43 nonenterotoxigenic strains possessed K99. The presence of K99 antigen is therefore a reliable indicator of enterotoxigenicity in bovine strains. Porcine strains produced LT, ST or LT + ST. The K88 antigen was found in 52 out of 101 enterotoxigenic strains, K99 and P987 in 7 and 6 strains respectively and the latter 13 strains produced only ST. P987 was only detected after subculturing in liquid medium to enhance pilus formation. Eleven out of 111 strains of human origin stimulated cAMP synthesis but failed to round Y1 cells, whereas 4 known LT producers were positive in both tests. Attachment factors were found only in 2 of the latter 4 strains.