The importance of enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli containing the 987P antigen in causing neonatal colibacillosis in piglets in Indonesia.

A survey was undertaken in piggeries in the Bogor and Jakarta Capital Territory areas to identify the antigens associated with enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (E. coli). Rectal swab samples were collected from 65 normal piglets and from 858 with diarrhoea. Fimbrial and O-antigens were determined by agglutination tests. The 987P antigen was only associated with non-haemolygic E. coli in colonies grown for 3-10 days in tryptic soy broth. Organisms which possessed 987P antigen were isolated from 56.4% of piglets with diarrhoea and from 10.8% of normal piglets. Most cases of diarrhoea that were associated with E. coli 987P occurred within the first 3 weeks of life. Multiple infections occurred in 13.4% of cases and were associated with E. coli K88 in eight cases (1.7%) K99 in 26 cases (5.4%) and F41 in 31 cases (6.4%). Of 959 isolates of E. coli 987P, 80.7% were O-group 20, 13% were O-group 9 and 0.5% were O-group 141 with 5.7% being non-typable. Heat stable toxin was produced by all five E. coli 987P isolates tested.