Shiga Toxin Genes Detected in Fecal Samples of Illinois Finisher Pigs
Abstract
1. Introduction
2. Materials and Methods
2.1. Animal Care and Use
2.2. Study Design and Sample Collection
2.3. Bacterial Enrichment Culture and DNA Extraction
2.4. PCR Detection of STEC Stx Genes
3. Results
3.1. Stx Was Commonly Detected in the Fecal Samples from the Illinois Finisher Pigs
3.2. Stx Detection Shows Monthly Variations in Illinois Finisher Pigs
3.3. Stx2e Is the Predominant Subtype Detected in the Fecal Samples of the Illinois Finisher Pigs
4. Discussion
5. Conclusions
- Shiga toxin genes are highly prevalent in Illinois finisher pigs (61%) but are mostly represented by the stx2e gene, which is associated with diarrhea and edema disease in pigs;
- The Shiga toxin genes that are associated with human severe diseases are detected at a very low level in Illinois finisher pigs, suggesting a low risk of Illinois pork products to public health or food safety.
- Attention may be needed to develop better strategies against pig diarrhea and edema to reduce the presence of E. coli strains harboring Shiga toxin genes in finisher pigs.
Author Contributions
Funding
Institutional Review Board Statement
Informed Consent Statement
Data Availability Statement
Acknowledgments
Conflicts of Interest
References
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Primers | Sequence | Length | References |
---|---|---|---|
Stx 1-F | 5′ CTA GCT AGC ATG AAT AAT TTA TAT GTG ′3 | 642 bp | This study |
Stx 1-R | 5′ TCA CGG CCG TTA TTA ATC CCA CAA TAT ′3 | ||
Stx 2-F | 5′ CCA TGA CAA CGG ACA GCA GTT ′3 | 477 bp | [27] |
Stx 2-R | 5′ TGT CGC CAG TTA TCT GAC ATT C ′3 | ||
Stx 2a-F | 5′ GCG ATA CTG AGC ACT GTG GCC ′3 | 347 bp | [8] |
Stx 2a-R | 5′ GCC ACC TTC ACT GTG AAT GTG ′3 | ||
Stx 2c-F | 5′ GAA AGT CAC AGT TTT TAT ATA CAA CGG GTA ′3 | 177 bp | |
Stx 2c-R | 5′ CCG GCC ACC TTT ACT GTG AAT GTA ′3 | ||
Stx 2d-F | 5′ AAA GTC ACA GTC TTT ATA TAC AAC GGG TG ′3 | 280 bp | |
Stx 2d-R | 5′ GCC TGA TGC ACA GGT ACT GGA C ′3 | ||
Stx 2e-F | 5′ CGG AGT ATC GGG GAG AGG C ′3 | 411 bp | |
Stx 2e-R | 5′ CTT CCT GAC ACC TTC ACA GTA AAG GT ′3 | ||
Fed-F | 5′ATG CGT TTA AAA TAT ATC TTG ATC′3 | 900 bp | This study |
Fed-R | 5′CTG TAT CTC GAA AAC AAT GGG C′3 |
Month | # of Samples | stx1 | stx2 | stx2a | stx2c | stx2d | stx2e | F18 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
October-21 | 50 | - | 18 (36%) | - | - | 6 (12%) | 17 (34%) | 11 (22%) |
March-22 | 100 | - | 19 (19%) | - | - | - | 19 (19%) | 8 (8%) |
April-22 | 99 | 2 (2%) | 64 (65%) | - | - | 1 (1%) | 55 (56%) | 14 (14%) |
May-22 | 50 | - | 28 (56%) | - | - | - | 21 (42%) | 3 (6%) |
June-22 | 102 | - | 86 (84%) | - | - | 2 (2%) | 52 (51%) | 35 (34%) |
September-22 | 70 | - | 70 (100%) | - | - | 1 (1%) | 65 (93%) | 42 (60%) |
Total (%) | 471 | 2 (0.4%) | 285 (61%) | 0 | 0 | 10 (2%) | 229 (49%) | 113 (24%) |
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Lauder, K.L.; Parvej, S.M.; Shen, Y.; Zhang, C.; Osei-Bonsu, J.; Lowe, J.F.; Zhang, W. Shiga Toxin Genes Detected in Fecal Samples of Illinois Finisher Pigs. Bacteria 2025, 4, 52. https://doi.org/10.3390/bacteria4040052
Lauder KL, Parvej SM, Shen Y, Zhang C, Osei-Bonsu J, Lowe JF, Zhang W. Shiga Toxin Genes Detected in Fecal Samples of Illinois Finisher Pigs. Bacteria. 2025; 4(4):52. https://doi.org/10.3390/bacteria4040052
Chicago/Turabian StyleLauder, Kathryn L., Shafiullah M. Parvej, Yiyang Shen, Chongyang Zhang, Jehadi Osei-Bonsu, James F. Lowe, and Weiping Zhang. 2025. "Shiga Toxin Genes Detected in Fecal Samples of Illinois Finisher Pigs" Bacteria 4, no. 4: 52. https://doi.org/10.3390/bacteria4040052
APA StyleLauder, K. L., Parvej, S. M., Shen, Y., Zhang, C., Osei-Bonsu, J., Lowe, J. F., & Zhang, W. (2025). Shiga Toxin Genes Detected in Fecal Samples of Illinois Finisher Pigs. Bacteria, 4(4), 52. https://doi.org/10.3390/bacteria4040052