Determination of Escherichia coli serotypes isolated from baby alpacas (Vicugna pacos) with and without diarrhea in Huancavelica

The aim of this study was to isolate, identify and Escherichia coli serotype strains from samples of rectal swabs of baby alpacas with and without diarrhea from Huancavelica. The sampling was performed by rectal swabs of 150 baby alpaca, Escherichia coli was isolated from 47.78 % (43/90) of alpacas with diarrhea , and 58.33 % (35/60) without diarrhea; The isolation was performed on MacConkey agar, identification by conventional biochemical tests, such as fermentation of glucose, lactose; acid production from glucose, urease production, Vorges Proskauer, phenyl alanine, mobility, utilization malonate and Simmons citrate; decarboxylation of lysine and ornithine; and gluconic acid oxidation. Serotyping was developed by Kauffman agglutination method of somatic antigen (O) and flagellar (H) with specific antisera and graduates. 46 different serotypes were identified, O8:H8 , O105ab:H8 and O22:H1, serotypes were identified in 9.3 % percentages of each ones, as most commonly isolated from animals with diarrhea; O8:H9 , O8:H8 and O170:H7 in percentages of 14.29 % , 8.57% and 8.57% respectively, isolated from animals without diarrhea. Serotypes were isolated in both groups of individuals are O8:H9, O8:H8, 105ab:H8, O170:H7, O157:H19, in percentages of 10.26 %, 8.97%, 7.69%, 6.41% and 2.56 %, respectively. Statistical analysis, no significant difference (p>0.05) between the identification of serotypes and health condition of the animals was found.