Enhanced growth of E. coli in whey from sows with agalactia syndrome.

E. coli strains were inoculated into porcine whey samples. Replication rates and the final number of bacteria increased when grown in samples collected from sows affected by the agalactiae syndrome as compared with control samples from healthy ones. The bacteria grew especially well in samples collected on the day of farrowing. The results suggest that milk collected at the very early stages of lactation and from sows affected by agalactia supports growth of E. coli. This might make the mammary glands more sensitive to infections caused by coliform bacteria although the causal relationship remains to be resolved.