Fluido oral para detecção de exposição á Lawsonia Intracellularis em suínos naturalmente infectados

Abstract

Porcine proliferative enteropathy, caused by the bacterium Lawsonia intracellularis, is a widespread intestinal disease that affects several animal species, including swine, causing episodes of diarrhea, weight loss and death. Different ante mortem diagnostic methods have been used for the diagnosis of this disease to guide the implementation of preventive and control measures at the pig farms. Experimentally, the usefulness of oral fluid (OF) in detecting anti-L. intracellularis antibodies has been demonstrated in swine. To demonstrate the utility of the OF as a diagnostic method in the field, 15 pig farms were studied. Serum and fecal samples were collected from 20 animals of 5 different age groups, and OF samples collected from animals in two pens at the same age groups. Serum and OF samples were analyzed by immunoperoxidase in monolayer assay for the detection of Immunoglobulin G and A. A similarity was found between PCR and IgG in OF in four of the five ages evaluated. Simultaneous detection in serum and OF of immunoglobulin G was observed mainly in farms showing suggestive or characteristic clinical signs of porcine proliferative enteropathy, demonstrating the usefulness of the OF in the detection of anti-L. intracellularis antibodies as a possible diagnostic tool for monitoring of Porcine proliferative enteropathy, mainly in herds with clinical signs compatible with the disease.