Adhesion of K99-positive Escherichia coli to intestinal brush borders of pigs.

Ileal samples from 242 pigs, collected at 3 Michigan slaughterhouses, were studied to determine the prevalence of intestinal receptors for K99-positive Escherichia coli. A brush border adhesion test was used to identify the receptors. Of the 242 samples examined, receptors were demonstrated in 230 (95%). After storage of brush border preparations at 4 C, bacterial aggregates lacking identifiable brush border fragments were present in samples tested for adhesion, indicating that K99 receptors may be released from brush border membranes. Seemingly, most, if not all, pigs have intestinal receptors for K99 pili, and an inheritance pattern similar to that observed for K88 receptors probably does not exist for K99 receptors.