A new genetic marker test for resistance towards E.coli F4ab/ac diarrhoea in pigs, is now available. VHL has reached agreement about the license to perform genetic marker testing for the resistance towards E. coli F4ab (K88ab) and E. coli F4ac (K88ac). The test enables the identification of E. coli F4ab/ac resistant pigs and carriers of resistance.

Enterotoxigenic E. coli (ETEC) that express F4ab and F4ac (formerly known as K88ab and K88ac) are major causes of diarrhoea and death in neonatal and young pigs. Studies in Denmark have shown that ETEC F4ab/ac is present in around 25% of the reported diarrhoea cases.

A DNA-test to predict a pig’s susceptibility towards ETEC F4ab/ac-induced diarrhoea and possible death has been developed in a collaboration between the Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University, Den-mark, Uppsala University, Sweden, University of Kalmar, Sweden and The Roslin Institute, United Kingdom. The DNA-test is marker-based but complete linkage disequilibrium was found in the tested populations so far. Please contact us for additional details about the background of the test.

You can contact us for more informations or ordering directly the analysis of your samples by using the attached documents (multiple tests on one animal or one test on multiple animals) .