We conclude that the EPEC possess the eaeA gene are a main cause of diarrhea in rabbit farms of shandong province and the detection of LEE pathogenicity island should be a main method for EPEC molecular diagnosis and epidemiological investigation.

• L EE毒力岛的检测能够作为兔肠致病性大肠杆菌 (REPEC)的诊断和流行分子病学调查的主要手段