Gene typing of the colonisation factor K88 (F4) in enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli strains isolated from diarrhoeic piglets

More than 4 000 E. coli strains isolated from diarrhoeic piglets in Ill pig herds in the Czech Republic during the period 1995-2000 were examined for serogroup and virulence factors. Gene typing of the K88 marker by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used for the examination of 283 enterotoxigenic strains (ETEC) which agglutinated with antisera against K88 or adhered to intestinal brush borders. The K88 gene was detected in 237 strains; among them 232 strains possesed the K88 variant. Genotype K88ab was found in two strains of the serogroup O8 from one herd and the gene K88ad was detected in three strains of the serogroup O8 originating from another herd. The results show that the type K88ac is predominant in ETEC strains with colonisation factors K88 in pig herds in the Czech Republic.