Effect of pectin on secretion in pig jejunal loops challenged to enteropathogenic E. coli or enterotoxin (LT). A preliminary report.

Perorally administered pectin in pigs could reduce the fluid accumulation in intestinal loops challenged to different dilutions of enteropathogenic E. coli strains, no effect was observed to enterotoxin (LT) preparations. Pectin seems to interact with the bacterial colonization. The neutralizing effect was most pronounced with low inoculation doses in the loops (10(3) and 10(5)), while high doses (10(9)) permitted the strains to exert their enteropathogenic effect (Table I). Different batches gave different effects (Table II) and some preparations were extraordinarily effective (Table III). Thus standardisation and testing is important in developing pectin preparations for diarrhoea prophylaxis.