Genotypic prevalence of F4 variants (ab, ac, and ad) in Escherichia coli isolated from diarrheic piglets in Korea

Abstract

A total of 812 Escherichia coli strains isolated from diarrheic piglets were tested for the presence of the F4 (K88) variant (ab, ac and ad) gene by the polymerase chain reaction. Forty four (5.4%) of the 812 E. coli strains carried genes for F4. Among the 44 isolates known to carry genes for F4, 42 (96%) isolates contained genes for F4ac and 2 (4%) isolates contained genes for F4ab. None of the E. coli strains carried genes for F4ad. Our data show that F4ac is the predominant F4 variant associated with diarrhea in piglets in Korea. Copyright (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V.