TY - JOUR

T1 - Association between faecal load of lawsonia intracellularis and pathological findings of proliferative enteropathy in pigs with diarrhoea

A1 - Pedersen,Ken Steen

A1 - Ståhl,Marie

A1 - Guedes,Roberto Maurício Carvalho

A1 - Angen,Øystein

A1 - Nielsen,Jens Peter

A1 - Jensen,Tim Kåre

AU - Pedersen,Ken Steen

AU - Ståhl,Marie

AU - Guedes,Roberto Maurício Carvalho

AU - Angen,Øystein

AU - Nielsen,Jens Peter

AU - Jensen,Tim Kåre

PB - BioMed Central Ltd.

PY - 2012

Y1 - 2012

N2 - Background<br/>The study was designed to investigate correlation between histological findings of Lawsonia intracellularis in porcine cases of diarrhoea and the quantitative detection of Lawsonia intracellularis in faeces. A total of 156 pigs (10 to 70 days post weaning) with diarrhoea were randomly selected from 20 herds: The pigs were subjected to necropsy, histopathology, immunohistochemistry and faecal quantification of Lawsonia intracellularis by real time PCR.<br/><br/>Results<br/>The median Lawsonia intracellularis excretion was significantly higher in pigs with gross lesions of proliferative enteropathy (median excretion: 5.92 log10 bacteria/g faeces) compared to pigs without gross lesions of proliferative enteropathy (median excretion: &lt;3.3 log10 bacteria/g faeces) (P&lt;0.001). Spearman's correlation coefficient between the measureable PE lesions and L. intracellularis excretion was 0.50 (P&lt;0.001). A significantly increasing trend in Lawsonia intracellularis excretion level for increasing proliferative enteropathy histopathology and immunohistochemistry scores was demonstrated (P&lt;0.001; P&lt;0.001). Spearman's correlation coefficient between the histopathology scores and L. intracellularis excretion was 0.67 (P&lt;0.001). Spearman's correlation coefficient between the IHC scores and L. intracellularis excretion was 0.77 (P&lt;0.001).<br/><br/>Conclusions<br/>The histological and quantitative PCR detection of Lawsonia intracellularis were correlated in pigs with diarrhoea. Overall the results suggest that clinically important levels for Lawsonia intracellularis excretion in faeces may be established. Such clinical threshold levels may be used in practice to confirm a diagnosis of Lawsonia intracellularis associated diarrhoea.

AB - Background<br/>The study was designed to investigate correlation between histological findings of Lawsonia intracellularis in porcine cases of diarrhoea and the quantitative detection of Lawsonia intracellularis in faeces. A total of 156 pigs (10 to 70 days post weaning) with diarrhoea were randomly selected from 20 herds: The pigs were subjected to necropsy, histopathology, immunohistochemistry and faecal quantification of Lawsonia intracellularis by real time PCR.<br/><br/>Results<br/>The median Lawsonia intracellularis excretion was significantly higher in pigs with gross lesions of proliferative enteropathy (median excretion: 5.92 log10 bacteria/g faeces) compared to pigs without gross lesions of proliferative enteropathy (median excretion: &lt;3.3 log10 bacteria/g faeces) (P&lt;0.001). Spearman's correlation coefficient between the measureable PE lesions and L. intracellularis excretion was 0.50 (P&lt;0.001). A significantly increasing trend in Lawsonia intracellularis excretion level for increasing proliferative enteropathy histopathology and immunohistochemistry scores was demonstrated (P&lt;0.001; P&lt;0.001). Spearman's correlation coefficient between the histopathology scores and L. intracellularis excretion was 0.67 (P&lt;0.001). Spearman's correlation coefficient between the IHC scores and L. intracellularis excretion was 0.77 (P&lt;0.001).<br/><br/>Conclusions<br/>The histological and quantitative PCR detection of Lawsonia intracellularis were correlated in pigs with diarrhoea. Overall the results suggest that clinically important levels for Lawsonia intracellularis excretion in faeces may be established. Such clinical threshold levels may be used in practice to confirm a diagnosis of Lawsonia intracellularis associated diarrhoea.

KW - Diarrhoea

KW - Immunohistochemistry

KW - Lawsonia intracellularis

KW - Quantitative real time PCR

KW - Pig

U2 - 10.1186/1746-6148-8-198

DO - 10.1186/1746-6148-8-198

JO - B M C Veterinary Research

JF - B M C Veterinary Research

SN - 1746-6148

IS - 198

VL - 8

ER -