Epidemiological Investigation On Porcine Proliferative Enteropathy (PPE) In Fujian Province

Porcine proliferative enteritis (PPE) is an enteric disease of weaned pigs characterized by proliferation of intestinal cryptal epithelial cells and the presence of bacteria in the apical cytoplasm. The etiologic agent of PPE is Lawsonia intracellularis, an obligate intracellular bacterium. Questionnaire survey method was used to investigate the rudimental epidemiology of PPE, then, Elisa and PCR methods were used to detect the serum and fecal samples collected from swine farms in Fujian province to get a precise epidemiology of PPE. As while, technical measures on prevention and control of PPE were discussed.The questionnaire investigation and interview were adopted in survey ofl 21 swine farms in four region of Fujian province from July,2007. The results indicated that there were PPE clinical symptom existed in every swine farm in this investigation. 850 serum samples were detected by Elisa method to investigate the antibody level of PPE. The results showed that there were 237 positive samples and the positive rate was 27.55%, as while, every swine farms in this investigation were PPE positive swine farm. The swine farms in this investigate have never used PPE vaccine before. 142 fecal samples from swine which has clinical symptom were detected by a PCR method to investigate the Lawsonia intracellularis. The results showed that there were 67 positive samples and the positive rate wsa 47.18%. At the same time 167 fecal sample from normal swine were detected, the results showed that there were 23 positive samples and the positive rate was 13.77%.The results also showed that there were 7 positive swine farms and the positive rate of swine farm was 70%.All the results indicated that PPE was extensively existed in Fujian province, It would become potential threat to the well development of swine productions in Fujian.