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A quicker, easier — and possibly cheaper — method of diagnosing oedema disease in pigs using the PCR test on faeces may be possible in the future. This depends upon the results of a small pilot study being replicated on a commercial scale, according to Verena Gotter, veterinarian with IDT Biologika.
Dr Gotter was addressing the IPVS /ESPHM (International Pig Veterinary Society/European Symposium of Porcine Health Management) meeting in Dublin. She said that the test involves taking samples direct from the faeces instead of waiting for post-mortem tests on tissues.
The study involved 20 pigs from 14 commercial farms from which faecal swabs were subjected to the PCR test and compared with the results from histopathology involving samples from the brain, spinal cord and intestine.
Oedema disease is one of the main causes of mortality in weaned pigs. It is caused by shiga toxin-producing E. coli and is difficult to diagnose on the farm.
“The PCR tests from faeces could make the analysis of the disease quicker and less expensive because the piglets would not have to be submitted to a post-mortem examination anymore,” said Dr Gotter. “The test is not 100 per cent accurate but neither are the current ones. While the initial results are promising they should not be over-estimated. Further studies involving more pigs should be carried out.”
June 9, 2016 - IDT
