Risk Factors for Prevalence of Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli （ETEC） in Diarrheic and Non-diarrheic Neonatal and Weaner Pigs, South Africa

Enterotoxigenic Escherichio coli （ETEC） causes neonatal and post-weaning diarrhea in pigs. In order to determine the risk factors, rectal/fecal swabs and visceral organs obtained from pig farms in two regions of South Africa were analyzed microbiologically against risk variables. Seventy-two percent of young pigs were found to be positive for ETEC toxin genes; estB （38.9%）, estB/STAP （25%）, and estB/LT （13.9%） were dominant. Risk factors for ETEC-diarrhea in pigs include： leaving sick piglets in a pen with healthy piglets [odds ratio （OR） = 33.52; P 〈 0.0001]; water spillage in pen （OR = 42.87; P 〈 0.0001）; hypothermic piglets （OR = 7.29; P 〈 0.0001）; runt piglets in pen with healthy littermates （OR = 3.65; P 〈 0.0001）; and prolonged use of antibiotics （OR = 3.05; P = 0.05）.