Medycyna Wet. 65 (4), 258-261, 2009
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| Pejsak Z., Żmudzki J., Wojciechowski J., Salwa A. |
| Prevalence and economic costs of proliferative enteropathy in the Polish swine herd population |
| Proliferative enteropathy is an enteric disease that occurs in weaning and fattening pigs, constituting a serious problem in pig production worldwide. The aim of the study was to perform an epidemiological survey on different Polish pig farms in order to discover the prevalence of herds infected with PPE and to determine the influence of the infection on economic losses from ileitis. On the basis of a clinical interview, post mortem examinations and characteristic lesions of PPE, 37 farms were chosen for further laboratory examination. Fecal samples were collected from 5-10 fatteners (5-6 month) which were not treated with antibiotics at least one week before sample collection. The performed analysis showed that the PPE infection occurred on average in 10.8% of pigs in fattening units The lowest infection level was found in breeding farms - on average 6.5%. In farrow-to-finish farms 10.1% of pigs were infected with PPE. The percentage of pigs with clinical signs of PPE was different in tested farms. For breeding farms the mentioned parameter was on average 6.5%. In farrow-to-finish farms it was on average 10.1%, 16.7% at the maximum and 2.0% at the minimum, whereas in fattening units the respective values were 10.8%, 12.1% and 8.9%. Increased mortality in weaned piglets and fatteners was observed. On average, the mortality rate due to PPE was 1.0%, varying from 0.8% to 1.2%. The lowest mortality rate of 0.6% was recorded on breeding farms. The results of molecular examinations identifying 16S rRNA sequences of L. intracellularis in fecal samples demonstrated the presence of genetic material of the bacteria in 6 out of 37 investigated farms; in 3 fattening units (60.0%) and in 3 farrow-to-finish farms (12.5%). L. intracellularis was not found in breeding farms. Serological findings proved the presence of antibodies in all 37 farms (100.0%) tested. The results showed that PPE infections are widespread in medium and large-scale farms in Poland. The consequences of infection with L. intracellularis were the most evident in fattening units. |
| Keywords: Lawsonia intracellularis, economic losses, epidemiology |