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Title: VACCINATION WITH A GENETIC MUTANT OF SHIGA-LIKE TOXIN II VARIANT PREVENTS EDEMA DISEASE IN SWINE

Author
item Bosworth, Brad
item SAMUEL, JAMES - TEXAS A&M, COLLEGE STA.
item Moon, Harley
item O'BRIEN, ALISON - UNIFORMED SERV. UNIV.
item GORDON, VALERIE - NAT. INST. HEALTH
item WHIPP, SHANNON - ARS-RETIRED

Submitted to: Infection and Immunity
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/23/1995
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: Escherichia coli producing the poison called Shiga-like toxin cause severe disease and death in humans and animals. We have used a modified, safe form of this poison to vaccinate pigs. Vaccinated pigs were protected when infected with poison-producing E. coli. Nonvaccinated pigs that were infected died and had brain damage. This study demonstrated that the modified form of the poison can effectively prevent death and disease caused by E. coli that produce Shiga-like toxin.

Technical Abstract: Escherichia coli producing Shiga-like toxin II variant (SLT-IIe, formerly called SLT-IIv) cause edema disease in weaned pigs. Vaccination of pigs with a genetic mutant of SLT-IIe (E167Q) has been previously shown to be nontoxic and induce antibodies to SLT-IIe (Gordon et al., 1992). Fifty ug of E167Q toxin was used to vaccinate suckling pigs at 1 and 2 weeks of age. Both vaccinated and nonvaccinated pigs were orally inoculated with a SLT-IIe-producing strain of E. coli after weaning (3-4 weeks of age). Pigs fed a low protein that were not vaccinated with E167Q developed subclinical edema disease, histologically evident as vascular necrosis. Pigs fed a high protein diet that were not vaccinated with E167Q developed clinical edema disease manifested as vascular necrosis, reduced weight gain, ataxia, palpebral edema, lateral recombency, and death. Pigs vaccinated with E167Q had a reduction in the incidence of subclinical edema disease and never developed clinical edema disease. These data demonstrate that vaccination with a genetic mutant of SLT-IIe prevents edema disease and are consistent with the notion that diet influences susceptibility to edema disease.