Rabbit mucosal receptors for an enteropathogenic Escherichia coli strain: appearance of bacterial receptor activity at weaning.

Adherence studies using the rabbit enteropathogenic Escherichia coli strain RDEC-1 indicate that this strain attaches in a species-specific manner to receptors located on its host intestinal epithelial cells. Because intestinal epithelial cells undergo marked developmental changes within the first few weeks of life, we designed a study to determine whether the presence of bacterial receptors on rabbit brush borders changed during this time. The adherence of RDEC-1 to rabbit brush borders isolated from rabbits aged 2-35 days and from adult rabbits was examined. No adherence of RDEC-1 was detected to rabbit brush borders isolated from rabbits 15 days or younger. Receptors for RDEC-1 were first detected on rabbit brush borders from 21-day-old rabbits and by 35 days, RDEC-1 receptor activity on rabbit brush borders had reached adult levels. Piliated, enteroadherent, human Escherichia coli pathogens did not adhere to rabbit brush borders of any age group indicating that nonspecific adherence did not occur.