Major virulence factors of enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli in pigs

Abstract

Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) infection is the most common type of colibacillosis of young animals, and it is also a significant cause of food- and waterborne E. coli-mediated human diarrhea worldwide. ETEC is a pathotype characterized by the production of adhesins that mediate bacterial adherence to the intestinal epithelium and enterotoxins that interact with the intestine to cause diarrhea. In addition to adhesive and enterotoxic virulence factors, pathogenesis also involves host factors, the most important of which are receptors for adhesins and enterotoxins. The aim of this review is to summarize current knowledge and to highlight new developments and the most actual research topics in the area of ETEC infections in pigs. Attention is also paid to recently described new virulence factors and new vaccines against ETEC bacteria. © Springer-Verlag and the University of Milan 2011.