Hybridization of clinical Escherichia coli isolates from calves and piglets in New York State with gene probes for enterotoxins (STaP, STb, LT), Shiga-like toxins (SLT-1, SLT-II) and adhesion factors (K88, K99, F41, 987P).

Six hundred and sixty-six bovine and fifty-seven swine clinical isolates of E. coli from New York state were examined for the presence of enterotoxins (STaP, STb, LT, SLT-I, and SLT-II) and adhesins (K88, K99, F41, and 987P) using colony hybridization techniques. Three hundred and sixty-seven of the bovine isolates (45.2%) hybridized with at least one gene probe. Of these, two hundred and twenty-three (33.2%) hybridized with F41, one hundred twelve (16.7%) with K99, eighty-two (12.2%) with 987P, ninety-six (14.3%) with STaP, seven (1.1%) with STb, and none (0.0%) with LT and K88. A total of thirty-three (4.7%) of the isolates hybridized with SLT-I, and one (0.1%) with SLT-II. The major pathotypes among the 666 isolates from bovine were K99/F41/StaP (9.8%), K99/F41 (2.5%), p87P/F41 (2.1%) and 987P/K99/F41/StaP (1.4%). Of the swine clinical isolates, twenty-two hybridized with at least one gene probe. The major pathotypes among the isolates from piglets were K88/K99/F41/StaP (5.3%) and K88/F41 (5.3%).