Use of a monoclonal antibody to detect the F41 fimbrial adhesion of enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli.

A monoclonal antibody that identifies a specific epitope on the F41 fimbrial adhesin was used in coagglutination and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) tests, to identify successfully strains of Escherichia coli expressing the F41 adhesin. The antibody also bound to frozen sections of ileum from piglets infected with an F41 positive E coli demonstrating that the epitope is expressed in vivo.