Abstract
Neonatal diarrhea (ND) is still a frequently observed problem in modern industrial pig production. ND is predominantly caused by bacterial and viral pathogens. The objective of this study was to give an overview of different pathogens involved in ND in Germany. In 2017, a total number of 555 litters from 205 German pig farms with clinical ND were sampled with pooled fecal samples. All samples were analyzed regarding bacterial pathogens by culture and viral pathogens by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Isolated strains of Clostridium (C.) perfringens, Escherichia (E.) coli, and C. difficile were further characterized by molecular techniques (e.g., PCR). There were 200 litters (36%), out of 555 sampled litters of 205 farms, which were positive for at least one, while most of them were positive for two or more pathogens. Toxin-producing C. perfringens type A could be detected in 122 farms (59.2%), C. difficile in 116 (56.1%), pathogenic E. coli in 79 (38.6%), and Rotavirus type A in 72 (35%). Among E. coli isolates, enterotoxigenic (8.8%) (F4 fimbriae positive (60.0%)) and necrotoxigenic E. coli (5.3%) were the most frequently detected pathotypes. In conclusion, in most of the farms with porcine ND it turned out to be a disease mainly caused by multiple pathogens, predominantly C. perfringens type A, pathogenic E. coli, and Rotavirus type A. Nevertheless, C. difficile and necrotoxigenic E. coli might be emerging pathogens in ND.
Highlights
Porcine neonatal diarrhea (ND) is still one of the major diseases in the modern swineproducing industry
C. difficile is the etiologic agent of pseudomembranous colitis, a severe, fatal disease that occurs in adults associated with antimicrobial therapy
This study shows that C. perfringens type A, pathogenic E. coli such as enterotoxigenic E. coli (ETEC), and, especially, F4 fimbriae positive ETEC and Rotavirus type A (RVA) are the main infectious agents detected in fecal samples of piglets suffering from ND in Germany
Summary
Porcine neonatal diarrhea (ND) is still one of the major diseases in the modern swineproducing industry. C. perfringens Type C, which causes highly fatal, necrohemorrhagic enteritis, lately seem to play a minor role as they are less frequently involved in cases of ND in recently published studies [3,4]. These well-described pathogens and the role and relevance of other bacteria detected in cases of porcine ND is not clarified yet. C. difficile is the etiologic agent of pseudomembranous colitis, a severe, fatal disease that occurs in adults associated with antimicrobial therapy It might be a relevant foodborne pathogen [5]. While it is proven that NTEC isolates can cause ND in humans and ruminants [8,9], it is unknown whether those strains might contribute to porcine ND
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