Porcine ileitis, or porcine proliferative enteropathy (PPE) to give it its scientific name, is an infectious intestinal disease which is widespread in pigs. The causative agent - a bacterium called Lawsonia intracellularis - enters the pig by the oral route. The economic impact of both the clinical and subclinical forms of the disease in pig herds is very substantial and depends on three factors: the age and number of pigs affected and the severity of the infection. In herds affected with ileitis, increased mortality, reduced daily weight gain, reduced feed conversion efficiency and longer time to slaughter all contribute to an increase in costs.

The vaccine is administered to weaned pigs via the drinking water. As the figures clearly show, many German pig farmers and producer organisations have recognised how beneficial ileitis vaccination can be for the rearing of quality piglets and high-performing gilts.

ISP Südwest eG, an integrated pig production organisation based in Sinsheim, Baden-Württemberg, has been vaccinating all its piglets since April 2005. ZEG, a breeder producers' association also based in Baden-Württemberg, has vaccinated all the gilts it has supplied since the autumn of 2005, whilst another local producers' association, the Erzeugergemeinschaft für Ringferkel in Schwaben w.V., has been giving the vaccination to all its weaners since August 2005. Currently every month half a million piglets are being vaccinated, with increasing trend.

For further information, see AHO's "Ileitis Monitor" website (in German)

Further Reading:

• Enterisol® Ileitis
  
• Initial results of field vaccination against Ileitis in Belgium
• Managing Lawsonia intracellularis infections in a large production system in the USA
• Boehringer Ingelheim
• PMWS and PCVD Section
• Porcine Ileitis
  
  
• Other articles referencing Ileitis

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