Use faecal qPCR testing to correlate Lawsonia Intracellularis shedding and pig performance
In 2015, Boehringer Ingelheim developed the first commercially available qPCR test in the U.S. to measure Lawsonia intracellularis levels in faeces. This study evaluates the use of this test as a diagnostic tool to identify pigs infected with varying degrees of ileitis and the correlation between lesion severity, shedding and overall losses in pig performance.[1]
20 February 2018
2 minute read
Conclusions:
This study shows that daily and total weight gain was inversely related to the dose level of L. intracellularis challenge. The macroscopic and microscopic lesions found in the ileum, cecum and colon were positively related to higher dose levels in the challenge. Based on the results of this study, qPCR might be useful to determine if either clinical or subclinical ileitis is present in the swine herd.
References:
[1] Seate, J, et al.; A fecal quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) assay for Lawsonia intracellularis and the correlation to pig performance in Lawsonia intracellularis challenge pigs. ESPHM 2017, Prague.
