Which statement correctly identifies the STEC pathotype in pigs that includes the edema disease?

Which statement correctly identifies the STEC pathotype in pigs that includes the edema disease?

• A. Enteropathogenic E. coli (EPEC)
• B. Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC), including EHEC
• C. Enterotoxigenic E. coli (ETEC)
• D. Enteroinvasive E. coli (EIEC)

Answer: (B)

Edema disease in pigs is caused by Shiga toxin-producing E. coli, specifically strains that make Shiga toxin type 2e. This places them in the STEC group, since STEC stands for Shiga toxin-producing E. coli. The enterohemorrhagic E. coli (EHEC) are a subset of STEC, so the idea that edema disease–associated strains fall under STEC includes EHEC as part of that group. The other E. coli pathotypes—enteropathogenic, enterotoxigenic, and enteroinvasive—cause different disease mechanisms and toxins and are not responsible for edema disease in pigs.

Edema disease in pigs is caused by Shiga toxin-producing E. coli, specifically strains that make Shiga toxin type 2e. This places them in the STEC group, since STEC stands for Shiga toxin-producing E. coli. The enterohemorrhagic E. coli (EHEC) are a subset of STEC, so the idea that edema disease–associated strains fall under STEC includes EHEC as part of that group. The other E. coli pathotypes—enteropathogenic, enterotoxigenic, and enteroinvasive—cause different disease mechanisms and toxins and are not responsible for edema disease in pigs.