Expert insights on ileitis symptoms, diagnosis and treatment options
At Pharmgate Animal Health, Dr. Nic Lauterbach helps producers and veterinarians find solutions to their health challenges. Ileitis, a prevalent and impactful disease in swine, is frequently a challenge for pork producers and a disease Dr. Nic frequently consults on. Understanding the symptoms, diagnosis, treatment and prevention of ileitis is crucial for maintaining the health and productivity of pig herds. Here, he shares his insights on common questions and recommendations to improve herd health outcomes.
What is ileitis, and how does it impact herd health?
Ileitis is a highly prevalent disease and one of the most common enteric diseases encountered in the growing pig phase. Also known as porcine proliferative enteropathy (PPE), ileitis is a significant gastrointestinal disease caused by the bacterium Lawsonia intracellularis.
Clinical signs, such as diarrhea and reduced weight gain, significantly impact pig health and productivity – and, ultimately, the producer’s bottom line.
What are the most common symptoms of ileitis that barn workers should monitor for, and how is it diagnosed?
There are two major iterations of this disease. The first is proliferative hemorrhagic enteropathy, an acute form that can cause mortality and bloody diarrhea in finishing pigs. The second is porcine intestinal adenomatosis, a more chronic form that manifests as a non-bloody form of ileitis, which can be present across a wide range of finishing pigs.
Quick surveillance for this disease can be done with the use of oral fluids or fecal samples. If you use fecal samples, focus on loose or discolored stools for your samples. Ileitis, the common term for this infection, comes from the thickening of the mucosa in the ileum of the small intestine. Lesions can be observed during a necropsy, which should be used to confirm the presence of this disease in your system.
Both forms of this disease lead to increased diarrhea, reduced weight gain, lower average daily gain (ADG), and poorer feed conversion from weaning to finishing, resulting in raised costs for raising these animals.
What are the long-term management strategies for ileitis?
Understanding the prevalence of ileitis on your farm is critical for long-term management. If you see diarrhea, implementing a diagnostic plan to rule out the presence of Lawsonia intracellularis is critical for your herd.
If you diagnose Lawsonia intracellularis in your system, medication strategies are available to combat the disease. The Pharmgate team has extensive production experience and can help you determine the best management strategies and tailor them to your operation’s specific situation.
Once the disease is diagnosed, maintaining high levels of barn hygiene between turns becomes critical. Cleaning and disinfecting your facilities are always important, but they are especially crucial when dealing with a fecal-oral spread bacteria like Lawsonia intracellularis. This practice helps to minimize the risk of re-infection and supports overall herd health.
Can ileitis be prevented?
Preventing Ileitis is challenging due to the high prevalence transmission of Lawsonia intracellularis. One effective strategy to reduce its prevalence is to maintain high standards of barn hygiene and cleanliness. Creating an environment that is less conducive to the spread of this disease helps to manage and potentially reduce the incidence of ileitis in your system.
What are the treatment options?
Animals will typically continue to drink water even after they have gone off feed when they are ill, making a water-soluble antibiotic a great option for ileitis treatment. Aivlosin® (62.5% w/w Tylvalosin as Tylvalosin Tartrate) Water-Soluble Granules (WSG) is a fast-acting macrolide antibiotic labeled for the control of Porcine Proliferative Enteropathy (PPE) associated with Lawsonia intracellularis infection in groups of swine intended for slaughter and female swine intended for breeding in buildings experiencing an outbreak of PPE. Not for use in male swine intended for breeding.
What are the benefits of using Aivlosin WSG to treat ileitis?
One of the primary advantages is a zero-day withdrawal time for U.S. markets, allowing for seamless integration into your management practices without disrupting production schedules. Additionally, effective treatment of ileitis can have a substantial positive impact on your bottom line. Subclinical ileitis can cost approximately $5 per head, but if diarrhea or bloody diarrhea associated with Lawsonia intracellularis is present, the cost can escalate to upwards of $20 per head. With effective treatment, producers can mitigate financial losses, ensuring healthier animals and more efficient operations. For a more in-depth breakdown of the cost of ileitis on your herd, listen to our podcast episode with Dr. Winkelman.
Do you have additional questions or concerns on ileitis? Contact our team to learn more and improve herd health.
Available under prescription only. AIVLOSIN® is indicated for control of porcine proliferative enteropathy (PPE) associated with Lawsonia intracellularis infection in groups of swine intended for slaughter and female swine intended for breeding in buildings experiencing an outbreak of PPE. Control of swine respiratory disease (SRD) associated with Bordetella bronchiseptica, Glaesserella (Haemophilus) parasuis, Pasteurella multocida, Streptococcus suis, and Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae in groups of swine intended for slaughter and female swine intended for breeding in buildings experiencing an outbreak of SRD. For use only in drinking water of pigs. Not for use in male swine intended for breeding. People with known hypersensitivity to tylvalosin tartrate should avoid contact with this product. When used in accordance with label directions, no withdrawal period is required before slaughter for human consumption.
