VKC
Case review: Adaptation of oral
ileitis vaccination to the health
status of the piglets
H. Nelemann
Dierenartsenpraktijk Beltrum, the Netherlands, www.dapbeltrum.nl
Introduction
Week 30, 2014
Porcine Intestinal Adenomatosis (PIA) is a chronic form of
• Necropsy of piglets at 7 weeks of age showed intestinal
ileitis caused by the bacterium Lawsonia intracellularis (Li)
problems. Histology of small and large intestines showed
which is in grow-finishing pigs associated with mild diar-
proliferative enteritis and some crypt abscesses. PCR
rhea, weight loss and increased body weight variation1. The
tests – including Li - were all negative. Fecal samples of
damage caused by Li-infection can be controlled by oral il-
piglets 5 and 7 weeks of age only tested positive for E.coli
eitis vaccination. Vaccination in general, is advised in clini-
(ETEC).
cally healthy animals.
• Drinking water samples were tested as polluted by enterococci and coli like species.
The objective of this case review is to show factors that
• EI vaccination rescheduled to 3 weeks of age.
may influence the effect of oral ileitis vaccination.
Materials and Methods
Discussion & Conclusion
A 500 head sow farm in a 2 week rhythm, sells 9 – 10 weeks
Starting ileitis vaccination at 5 – 7 weeks of age was advised
old piglets to two finishing farms. At both finishing farms,
as Li serum antibody testing in week 14 (ELISA) showed Li-
pigs showed symptoms of growth retardation and paleness
infection not before the age of 7 weeks.
which was diagnosed by necropsy as PIA (GD Animal Health
Deventer). Oral ileitis vaccination by drench (Enterisol®
The necropsies in piglets 7 weeks of age, week 30, provided
Ileitis) was started at 5 – 7 weeks of age.
no diagnosis of infectious disease. Drinking water quality
was poor. We concluded that for improvement of the intes-
At 3 months after the start of the ileitis vaccination both
tinal health, the water quality had to be good.
finishing farms still suffered symptoms of growth retardation, paleness and higher mortality. Diagnosis was made by
In this case the advice to vaccinate only clinically healthy
necropsy: PIA.
animals was missed. Diarrhea is a clinical sign that is often
not very obvious2 and can easily be missed. The farmer at
A second visit to the sow farm revealed diarrhea at all ages
the sow farm regarded ‘some diarrhea’ not as clinical symp-
from weaning (3,5 weeks of age) until transport to the fin-
tom of sickness.
ishing farms at 10 weeks of age. Immediately the ileitis vaccination was rescheduled to 3 weeks of age.
Rescheduling the ileitis vaccination to an age of 3 weeks, before weaning when there was no clinical sign of diarrhea, and
Results
cleaning the drinking water system had an immediate good
Week 14, 2014
effect. There were no more complaints in the finishers.
Before the start of vaccination, at 9 weeks of age, in serum samples no Li antibodies were found (bioScreen ELISA)(Table 1).
Meanwhile, the farmer has changed the ileitis vaccination to
application by the drinking water system, in clinically healthy
Age
Li antibodies
piglets at 7 weeks of age. With continuous good results in
the finishers.
9 weeks
0 /10
Table 1: Lawsonia antibodies as positive samples to sample size
(bioScreen ELISA)
In this case our conclusion is that, when applying oral vaccination, one has pay good attention to intestinal health issues like diarrhea around the age of vaccination.
Week 15, 2014
• Start of EI vaccination at 5 – 7 weeks of age.
References
Week 29, 2014
1. Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health Gmbh. (2006) Technical Manual 3.0
•N
ecropsy of finishers, 11 – 16 weeks of age, diagnosed as PIA.
2. Pedersen (2012) 22nd IPVS:BP407