Escherichia coli as a cause of enteritis in rabbits: effect of broth culture extract on cell culture

A total of 175 samples collected from the rectum of diarrheic rabbits were examined. The most prevalent isolates were E. coli [37.35%] followed by Shigella spp. [15.5%], Hafnia spp. [11.6%], Proteus spp. [7.8%], Serratia spp. [0.78%], and Edwardsiella spp. [0.78%]. 0119 was the most prevalent serovar, followed by 0103, 0101, 02, 018, 077, and 0132 in order of their frequency. On studying the effect of sterile extract of E. coli on Vero cells, 61.7% had cytopathic effect. 95.6% of examined E. coli strains had hemagglutinating properties. Nalidixic acid and furazolidone were the most effective drugs but penicillin, neomycin and erythromycin had no effect on E. coli strains