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Transmission of F4+ E. coli in groups of early weaned piglets

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 December 2004

P. L. GEENEN ,
D. DÖPFER ,
J. VAN DER MEULEN  and
M. C. M. DE JONG
P. L. GEENEN
Affiliation:
Infectious Diseases, Animal Sciences Group, Lelystad, The Netherlands Quantitative Veterinary Epidemiology, Wageningen University, Wageningen, The Netherlands
D. DÖPFER
Affiliation:
Infectious Diseases, Animal Sciences Group, Lelystad, The Netherlands
J. VAN DER MEULEN
Affiliation:
Infectious Diseases, Animal Sciences Group, Lelystad, The Netherlands
M. C. M. DE JONG
Affiliation:
Infectious Diseases, Animal Sciences Group, Lelystad, The Netherlands Quantitative Veterinary Epidemiology, Wageningen University, Wageningen, The Netherlands Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
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Abstract

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The aim of this study was to estimate transmission parameters of enterotoxigenic F4+ Escherichia coli F4 (F4+ E. coli) in groups of early weaned piglets with F4-receptor-positive (F4R+) and F4-receptor-negative piglets (F4R−). Transmission of F4+ E. coli was quantified in four heterogeneous groups of F4R+ and F4R− piglets. Infectiousness was determined by the number of F4+ E. coli/g faeces shed during 8 days. Transmission parameters were estimated using generalized linear models assuming a stochastic SIR model. F4R+ piglets were found to be more susceptible than F4R− piglets, but F4R+ and F4R− piglets were not different in infectiousness. The reproduction ratios for homogeneous F4R+ and F4R− populations were estimated as 6·37 (95% CI 1·89–21·48) and 0·02 (95% CI 0·00–1·13) respectively. The implication of these results is that in order to prevent major outbreaks, the fraction of F4R+ piglets should be small (approximately 10% or less). Therefore, selective breeding programmes could contribute to reducing F4+ E. coli-related diarrhoea and transmission.

Type
Research Article
Information
Epidemiology & Infection , Volume 133 , Issue 3 , June 2005 , pp. 459 - 468
Copyright
© 2004 Cambridge University Press