Lawsonia

• Lawsonia intracellularis

  • Gram-negative, slender, curved rod (Campylobacter-like organism)
  • Microaerophilic, obligate intracellular pathogen (does not grow in cell-free media)
  • Has affinity for porcine enterocytes where they replicate
• Porcine Proliferative Enteropathy

  It induces enterocyte proliferation with the development of adenomatous and inflammatory lesions in the terminal ileum, cecum, and colon
• Lawsonia intracellularis

  PORCINE PROLIFERATIVE ENTEROPATHY/ILEITIS
• Host

  • Weaned pigs (6-12 weeks of age)
• Transmission

  Ingestion of the pathogen
• Diagnosis

  • History and Clinical signs (Chronic intermittent diarrhea with reduction in weight gains to acute hemorrhagic enteropathy; sudden death may occur in severely affected pigs)
  • Lesions (ileum, cecum, and colon - thickening of the wall, mucosal necrosis and in severe cases, clotted blood in the lumen; enlarged mesenteric LN)
  • Microscopy and Bacterial cultures
• Treatment and Prevention

  • Antibiotic therapy (Tylosin or Tiamulin)
  • Zinc bacitracin