Management and Ileitis outbreaks
Infection with the ileitis organism can be affected by many factors — vaccination, medication, and management being the most significant. Vaccination offers long term protection as compared to medications, which are effective only when being consumed. Managing the amount dose and timing of exposure to Lawsonia can be modified with management and medication options. Management factors shown to increase the risk of ileitis include herd size (larger = more risk), new facilities, slatted floors, purchased breeding stock, and commingling. Thinking about the life cycle of the pig, these factors can be incorporated into a control strategy. By using combination strategies — vaccination, medication, and management — optimal control for best cost can be achieved.
Cleaning and sanitation prior to entry is the first critical step to control. Survival of Lawsonia outside the pig can be up to 2 weeks in certain conditions. The organism is readily inactivated in cleaned conditions (removal of organic matter prior to disinfection). Selection of proper disinfectant to sanitize between pig groups is important when ileitis breaks have occurred on site.
Medications have different levels of activity against Lawsonia, as measured in laboratory studies. McOrist defined prevention strategies as those targeted against Lawsonia prior to and during infection (outside the intestinal cell), while treatment strategies relied on medication penetrating cells where the organism lives.
Smaller numbers mean greater activity against Lawsonia. Relative absorption describes the ability of an antibacterial to be absorbed into the body, rather than be limited to intestinal activity only. Medications with low rates of absorption include carbadox, tylosin tartrate, apramycin sulfate, and neomycin sulfate. These drugs stay mainly in the intestinal lumen and may function predominantly in a “prevention” mode.
Putting the pieces together
A total ileitis management strategy can be formed from these key pieces of information:
- Get an accurate diagnosis of the cause of poor performance and/or enteric disease.
- Clean thoroughly, then disinfect with a product effective against Lawsonia.
- For long term protection against Ileitis, vaccinate pigs with Enterisol
® Ileitis four weeks prior to exposure. - Utilize effective medications after vaccination while the pig is developing immunity, or when vaccination cannot be done effectively, e.g. treating current outbreaks of disease.
- For maximum “whole hog” benefit, use readily absorbed medications with both enteric and respiratory effectiveness.
Combating ileitis can be done with a systematic plan. Pork Quality Assurance principles can be maintained while avoiding overuse of medications, and using oral vaccination and medication when indicated.
| Antibacterial | “Treatment” Intracellular activity (mcg/ml) | “Prevention” Extracellular activity (mcg/ml) | Relative absorption |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tiamulin | 4 | 4 | High |
| Chlortetracycline | 1 | 16 | High |
| Lincomycin HCL | 32 | 32 | Moderate |
| Tylosin tartrate | 64 | 64 | Low |
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More information
Bane DP, et al. Porcine proliferative enteropathy: a case-control study in swine herds in the United States. Journal of Swine Health and Production. 2001; 9(4): 155-158.
McOrist S. In vitro testing of antimicrobial agents for proliferative enteropathy (ileitis). Journal of Swine Health and Production. 1995; 3(4): 146-149.
Collins A, et al. Studies on the ex vivo survival of Lawsonia intracellularis. Journal of Swine Health and Production. 2000; 8(5): 211-215.