A study on PCR application for identifying hemorrhagic E.coli causing oedema disease in post - weaning pigs

Abstract

A study was conducted using PCR technique for identifying hemorrhagic E.coli causing oedema disease in post-weaning pigs. PCR conditions were set up to determine Verotoxin gene. Results revealed that up to 100% of oedema-suspected pigs were positive to E.coli. Examining 10 isolated strains showed that 9 strains killed genuine pigs with specific clinical symptoms and pathologic changes,  were  6 strains  had both heat stable and heat labile toxins. Meanwhile, 7 strains had ability to attach to Vero cells.  Applying PCR using VT1 and VT2 primers could amplify 2 specific genes with the according length of 210bp and 417bp. The PCR percentage positive to haemorrhagic E.coli in randomized samples was 64.29%