Enteritis in grower-finisher pigs caused by F18-positive Escherichia coli

Escherichia coli is a common cause of postweaning diarrhea in swine, but usually does not affect grower-finisher pigs. Eleven-week-old grower pigs presented with an acute and severe watery diarrhea, initially considered to be transmissible gastroenteritis. Diagnostic submissions showed the causative agent to be an F18-positive E coli producing shiga-like toxin. No pigs developed neurological signs or other conditions usually associated with edema disease. Affected pigs responded to treatment with neomycin. No significant difference was observed in mortality or growth performance between clinically affected and unaffected groups. This case report describes an unusual presentation of F18-positive E coli infection in 11-week-old pigs.