Two healthy pups in a breeding colony experienced sudden, peracute deaths. Post-mortem examination and molecular diagnostics revealed a co-infection with enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC) and a distinct strain of necrotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ExP-NTEC). Despite the absence of overt clinical signs prior to death, the presence of these virulent E. coli strains was confirmed. This case highlights the potential for rapid, fatal outcomes in apparently healthy animals due to co-infections with multiple pathogenic E. coli types, emphasizing the importance of thorough diagnostic investigation in sudden death cases in breeding facilities.
Key note: Co-infection with multiple virulent E. coli strains can cause peracute death in healthy animals without preceding clinical signs.