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The role of Escherichia coli in the etiology of piglet diarrhea in selected pig producing districts of central Uganda
Obala, T; Arojjo, S O; Afayoa, M; Ikwap, K; Erume, J.
  • Obala, T; College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Biosecurity, Makerere University. Kampala. UG
  • Arojjo, S O; College of Humanities and Social Sciences, Makerere University. Kampala. UG
  • Afayoa, M; College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Biosecurity, Makerere University. Kampala. UG
  • Ikwap, K; College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Biosecurity, Makerere University. Kampala. UG
  • Erume, J; College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Biosecurity, Makerere University. Kampala. UG
Afr. J. Clin. Exp. Microbiol ; 22(4): 515-525, 2021.
Article in English | AIM | ID: biblio-1342281
ABSTRACT

Background:

Pig production in Uganda is highly constrained by rampant piglet mortalities with diarrhea being a key feature. The present study was conducted to determine possible involvement of Escherichia coli (E. coli) as agents of diarrhea in piglets and elucidate the factors for their spread and virulence, towards development of mitigation strategies in the smallholder pig value chains in Uganda.

Methodology:

This was a cross-sectional study carried out from January to August 2020 on pre- and post-weaned piglets from households in Kayunga and Mityana districts of Central Uganda, selected by snowballing method to redundancy. Data about herd management and risk factors for colibacillosis were collected from selected farmers in the two districts. A total of 179 faecal samples were collected from randomly selected neonatal and pre-weaning piglets for bacteriological isolation of Escherichia coli. Virulence (enterotoxin and fimbrial) genes from the isolates were detected by multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay.

Results:

From the 179 faecal samples, a total of 158 (88.3%) E. coli isolates were obtained. Virulence gene markers were detected in 18.4% (29/158) of the isolates. Among the investigated genes encoding for enterotoxin production, STb was the most prevalent (16/158, 10.13%), followed by STa (12/158, 7.59%), while gene for LT was not detected. The gene coding for F4 adhesin was the only one detected while F18 adhesin was not detected from the isolates. On multiple logistic regression analysis, only tertiary educational level (OR=0.141; 95% CI=0.30-0.666; p=0.013) and infrequent use of antibiotics (OR=0.231, 95% CI=0.062-0.859; p=0.029) among the farmers, were the two factors significantly protective of the piglets from diarrhoea.

Conclusion:

This study reports a high prevalence of enterotoxin gene markers among E. coli isolates in piglets and revealed the potential role of these bacteria in the aetiology of piglet diarrhoea and mortalities in Uganda. Additionally, this study identified risk factors that can be useful in formulating treatment and control strategies of infection caused by these bacteria. Further studies are needed to identify more adhesins these E. coli isolates employ for intestinal colonization, a step that will help inform vaccine development.
Subject(s)

Full text: Available Index: AIM (Africa) Main subject: Drug Resistance, Microbial / Virulence Factors / Diarrhea / Escherichia coli Type of study: Etiology study / Observational study / Prognostic study / Risk factors Limits: Humans Country/Region as subject: Africa Language: English Journal: Afr. J. Clin. Exp. Microbiol Year: 2021 Type: Article Institution/Affiliation country: College of Humanities and Social Sciences, Makerere University/UG / College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Biosecurity, Makerere University/UG

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Full text: Available Index: AIM (Africa) Main subject: Drug Resistance, Microbial / Virulence Factors / Diarrhea / Escherichia coli Type of study: Etiology study / Observational study / Prognostic study / Risk factors Limits: Humans Country/Region as subject: Africa Language: English Journal: Afr. J. Clin. Exp. Microbiol Year: 2021 Type: Article Institution/Affiliation country: College of Humanities and Social Sciences, Makerere University/UG / College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Biosecurity, Makerere University/UG