QUANTIFICATION OF LAWSONIA INTRACELLULARIS IN PORCINE FAECAL SAMPLES BY REAL-TIME PCR

摘要

Lawsonia intracellularis is an obligate intracellular bacterium, and the causative agent of Proliferative Enteropathy in pigs as well as in a variety of other animals. Porcine proliferative enteropathy is an economically important enteric disease, causing diarrhoea and reduced weight gain in weaners and fatteners worldwide. Current diagnostic methods for the intravitam detection of L. intracellularis lack sensitivity and specificity, and cannot distinguish between carriers and clinically affected animals. Herein we present the development and evaluation of a new TaqMan~R PCR assay for the detection and quantification of L. intracellularis in faecal samples.