VIRULENCE DETERMINANTS OF ESCHERICHIA-COLI ISOLATED FROM THE MILK OF SOWS WITH COLIFORM MASTITIS

Escherichia coli isolates recovered from the milk of sows with colifor m mastitis u ere examined to determine their biochemical and serologic characteristics, serum resistance and ability to adhere to Fibronecti n and bovine fetal fibroblasts. No common biotype was identified, and a variety of serovars were detected. Ninety-five per cent of the inves tigated strains were serum resistant in swine serum. Binding to fibron ectin was demonstrated in most of the strains. At a binding level abov e 13% % of the added fibronectin the strains also adhered to fibroblas ts. The results of the study indicate a galactogenous route of infecti on. The importance of the identified virulence Factors needs to be fur ther elucidated.