ATTEMPT TO ELIMINATE LAWSONIA INTRACELLULARIS IN A NEW ESTABLISHED HIGH HEALTH SOW HERD

摘要

The causative agent of porcine proliferative enteropathy (PPE) is Lawsonia intracetlularis (L. intracellularis) affecting pigs in its acute and chronic disease forms. In affected pigs 6 -16 weeks old, the chronic form of the disease is evident as reduction of growth rate and failure to thrive. In older pigs, acute infection causes blody diarrhea and sudden death. Despite of good hygiene, modern housing systems and biosecurity within the facility, many diseases with a clinical appearence in grower andfinisher pigs persists in the breeding herd. The aim of this field experiment was to attempt to eliminate L. intracellularis in new established sow herds. If L. intracellularis could be eliminated from pig farms, it would have far reaching consequencesfor modern pig production giving better animal welfare, better feed conversion efficiency and lower the use of antibiotics.