Ds. Chandler et al., THE DISTRIBUTION AND STABILITY OF ESCHERICHIA-COLI K88 RECEPTOR IN THE GASTROINTESTINAL-TRACT OF THE PIG, Veterinary microbiology, 38(3), 1994, pp. 203-215
The levers of Escherichia coli K88 receptor were measured at various s
ites within the pig intestinal tract using an enzyme immunoassay. The
amount of receptor in samples taken from K88-adhesive phenotype animal
s was found to vary widely along the length of the intestinal tract, b
ut was usually highest in mucosal scrapings taken from the mid-small i
ntestine. Receptor was evident in material collected near either end o
f the small intestine and was not apparent in material collected from
the caecum or lower bowel. The ability of receptor-containing intestin
al material to react with immobilized K88 adhesin was inhibited by exp
osure of the material to either trypsin or contents from the lower bow
el. if the receptor-containing material was reacted with the immobilis
ed K88 adhesin prior to exposure to trypsin or lower bowel contents, t
he bound material remained evident for 24 to 48 h. The possible implic
ations of variable receptor activity in proteolytic environments in re
lation to pathogenesis and the determination of K88 phenotype in live
pigs is discussed.