246 Pathogenic Escherichia Coli Populations within the gut Microbiota of Commercial Swine Herds in the U.S

Abstract Enteropathogenic E. coli (ETEC) is a common infection in neonatal and nursery pigs resulting significant economic losses from morbidity, mortality, production inefficiencies. Due to the plasticity of its genome, can be particularly challenging manage swine systems. Populations are continuously changing their genome content via multiple methods genomic modification better adapt compete within ecological niches intestinal tract. This ability acquire genetic information allows individuals populations exchange virulence antibiotic resistance genes, developing into disease-causing ETEC strains that difficult with therapeutic antibiotics other antimicrobial methods. Virulence genes associated harbored healthy usually result disease when individual four or more virulence. Monitoring enumerating gene pool U.S. commercial herds indicates incorporating potentially pathogenic population entirety may effective strategy than focusing on mitigation.