Prevalence of pathogenic Escherichia coli in a swine breeding environment in Can Tho province, Vietnam

Abstract To determine the presence of enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (E. coli) (ETEC), Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) and attaching and effacing E. coli (AEEC) were collected in swine and in a water system in 17 swine farms in the Can Tho province of the Mekong delta. A total of 258 samples which were collected from swine feces (n=169), from feed (n=39) and from water (n=50) in the irrigation system were examined by PCR to determine whether they harbored the stx, eae, and enterotoxin genes. STEC was detected in 10 of 169 (6%) fecal samples, and AEEC in 5 fecal samples (3%). Both STEC and AEEC were detected in one fecal sample. AEEC was mainly detected in fecal samples from pigs that were less than 4 months old. STEC or AEEC was detected in 18 samples from 5 out of 17 (29%) farms. On the other hand, STEC and AEEC were also detected in the water and feed samples. ETEC was not detected in diarrhea samples.