Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli(ETEC) is a leading cause of post-weaning diarrhea in piglets, and the rising prevalence of multidrug resistance has posed increasing challenges for clinical prevention and treatment. In this study, an E. coli strain isolated from diarrheic piglets was systematically characterized for its antimicrobial resistance and pathogenic potential, antimicrobial susceptibility testing combined with whole-genome sequencing(WGS) revealed the strain's resistance phenotype and associated resistance genes. Virulence-associated factors carried by the strain were identified by PCR. Pathogenicity was further assessed by oral challenge in weaned piglets, evaluating diarrhea incidence, mental state, growth performance, bacterial shedding, gross lesions, and histopathological alterations. The results showed that the isolate was serotyped as O149:H10 and harbored F4 fimbriae, STb, and LT enterotoxins, consistent with ETEC characteristics. It exhibited resistance to multiple commonly used antimicrobials, including doxycycline, kanamycin, florfenicol, and ciprofloxacin, and carried genes associated with efflux pumps, tetracyclines, and aminoglycosides. In vivo, all challenged piglets developed diarrhea for two consecutive days, with continuous shedding of the inoculated strain detected for six days. Necropsy showed intestinal congestion and swelling, while H&E staining revealed villus damage, breakage, and desquamation. Collectively, these findings demonstrated that the strain possessed both multidrug resistance and significant pathogenicity. Clinically, cephalosporins and other effective agents should be prioritized, and enhanced surveillance of antimicrobial resistance in ETEC was warranted.
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