Early Events of Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli Colonization on Gut Barrier Function: No Longer UndETECted?

Excerpt

Post-weaning diarrhea (PWD), an important enteric disease of pigs that usually occurs shortly after weaning, is characterized by watery diarrhea, dehydration, loss of body weight, and the death of affected animals. It is considered a multifactorial disease associated with proliferation of enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) in the intestinal tract of infected pigs. In animal production, oral antibiotics are commonly used to control PWD. Since antimicrobial resistance in pathogenic bacteria is a global threat, increasing attention is being paid to the prudent use of antibiotics in food-producing animals. Therefore, there is an urgent need for novel and rational strategies helping to prevent PWD and the concomitant reduction of antibiotic use. …