Colicin resistance in relation to pathogenicity factors in strains of Escherichia coli isolated from the intestinal tract of piglets.

Three hundred and fifteen E. coli strains isolated from the intestine of piglets were examined for K-antigens 88 and 99, enterotoxin production and colicin resistance. Of these strains 308 belonged to one of 3 following different groups: Group 1: 0149, K88, producing heat-labile (LT) and heat-stable (ST) enterotoxins, group 2: 064, K99, producing ST, and group 3: variable O-antigens, no K-antigens or enterotoxin production. Almost 100 % of the E. coli strains were found to be resistant to colicins E, E, Ia, H and D+X. Resistance to colicins E, B+M, V and K+X were found in 91.7 %, 43.8 %, 49.8 % and 62.2 % respectively. E. coli strains in group 1 were always (resistant to colicin E, while about 87 % of the other strains were resistant to this colicin. E. coli strains in group 2 were more often resistant to colicin B+M, V and K+X (65 %, 94 %, 83 %) than strains in group 1 (37 %, 24 %, 64 %) and strains in group 3 (37 %, 52 %, 46 %). E. coli strains in group 2 showed a high degree of multiresistance, 45.1 % of the strains being resistant to all of the 9 colicins. About 10 % of the other strains were resistant to all of the 9 colicins. E. coli strains harbouring the enteropathogenicity factors K99 antigen and ST production, showed a higher degree of colicin resistance than both the E. coli strains with K88 antigen and ST and LT production, and the E. coli strains lacking enteropathogenicity factors.