Diversity of Escherichia coli from Faecal Samples of Danish Calves with Diarrhoea

Anna Luiza Farias Alencar; Abdurrahman Hassan Jibril; Birgitta Svensmark; Lene Agerskov; Henrik Læssøe Martin; Marc Stegger; André Becker Saidenberg; Gang Liu; Yaovi Mahuton Gildas Hounmanou; Annette Sønderholm Juel; John Elmerdahl Olsen; Rikke Heidemann Olsen

doi:10.3390/vetsci12100987

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Diversity of Escherichia coli from Faecal Samples of Danish Calves with Diarrhoea

Journal article

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Diversity of Escherichia coli from Faecal Samples of Danish Calves with Diarrhoea

Anna Luiza Farias Alencar, Abdurrahman Hassan Jibril, Birgitta Svensmark, Lene Agerskov, Henrik Læssøe Martin, Marc Stegger, André Becker Saidenberg, Gang Liu, Yaovi Mahuton Gildas Hounmanou, Annette Sønderholm Juel, …

Veterinary sciences, Vol.12(10), 987

2025

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci12100987

PMID: 41150125

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Abstract

calf diarrhoea

Escherichia coli

population diversity

Several different pathogens, including Escherichia coli, are strongly associated with calf diarrhoea. The population diversity of intestinal E. coli within each diarrhetic calf and between diarrhetic calves is not well understood. In the present study, 391 faecal samples were obtained during 2023–2024 from Danish dairy calves with diarrhoea. Semi-quantified growth estimates of E. coli after culturing did not reflect the diarrhetic grade nor whether E. coli was the only pathogen observed in the sample. From each sample, five isolates were subjected to multiple-locus variable-number tandem repeat analysis (MLVA) and revealed that 70% of faecal samples contained more than one type of E. coli. Genotyping, sequence typing and in silico serotyping showed a large diversity of E. coli between faecal samples. Surprisingly, isolates with a genotype representing mixed features of Diffusely adhering E. coli/Extraintestinal pathogenic E. coli were found in 25% of the isolates, while the classic Enterotoxigenic E. coli genotype was only observed in 5% of the isolates, and only 4% of the faecal samples were positive for E. coli F5 (K99) fimbriae, as determined by PCR. In conclusion, a diverse population of (non-F5) E. coli is associated with diarrhoea in calves. High genomic diversity of E. coli within samples needs to be considered when selecting only one isolate for antimicrobial resistance profiling and vaccination measurements.

Details

Title: Diversity of Escherichia coli from Faecal Samples of Danish Calves with Diarrhoea
Authors/Creators: Anna Luiza Farias Alencar - Technical University of Denmark
Abdurrahman Hassan Jibril - Usmanu Danfodiyo University
Birgitta Svensmark - Danish Cattle Research Centre
Lene Agerskov - Danish Cattle Research Centre
Henrik Læssøe Martin - Knowledge Centre for Agriculture
Marc Stegger - Murdoch University
André Becker Saidenberg - Statens Serum Institut
Gang Liu - Qingdao Agricultural University
Yaovi Mahuton Gildas Hounmanou - University of Copenhagen
Annette Sønderholm Juel - Danish Agriculture and Food Council
John Elmerdahl Olsen - University of Copenhagen
Rikke Heidemann Olsen - University of Copenhagen
Publication Details: Veterinary sciences, Vol.12(10), 987
Publisher: MDPI
Number of pages: 14
Identifiers: 991005829249107891
Murdoch Affiliation: Harry Butler Institute
Language: English
Resource Type: Journal article

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Collaboration types: Domestic collaboration; International collaboration
Citation topics: 3 Agriculture, Environment & Ecology; 3.51 Dairy & Animal Sciences; 3.51.2057 Colostrum
Web Of Science research areas: Veterinary Sciences
ESI research areas: Plant & Animal Science