Karen Post Rollins Laboratory

Publish Date: April 19, 2012

Edema disease is an enteric disorder caused by E coli. Although considered an enteric disease, neurologic signs and multiorgan pathology are hallmarks of this disease. Disease is caused by pathogenic serogroups of E. coli that express F18 or F4 pilus types which are important for binding to F18 E. coli receptors on the intestinal epithelium. However, F18 E. coli intestinal receptors are not fully expressed in the pig until approximately 21 days of age and therefore E coli edema disease only occurs in post-weaned pigs. The source of infection in pigs is unclear but disease has occurred in new nurseries suggesting that farrowing room infections may be the source.