Explorative Field Study on the Use of Oral Fluids for the Surveillance of <i>Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae</i> Infections in Fattening Farms by an Apx-Real-Time PCR
2022
Michael Kleinmans | Kerstin Fiebig | Robert Tabeling | Hanny Swam | Annelies Duivelshof-Crienen | Mathias Ritzmann | Matthias Eddicks
Oral fluids (OFs) represent a cost effective and reliable tool for surveillance purposes, mostly regarding viruses. In the present study, we evaluated the suitability of OFs for surveillance purposes concerning <i>Actinobacillus</i> (<i>A.</i>) <i>pleuropneumoniae</i> infections in fattening pigs under field conditions. OFs were examined with an Apx-toxin real-time PCR that detects the genes encoding for Apx I-, Apx III-, and Apx IV-toxin. For this purpose, we conducted a pen-wise collection of OFs over one fattening period from fattening pigs of two farms (farm A and B) with a known history of <i>A. pleuropneumoniae</i> infection. Lung lesions were determined at slaughter to estimate the extend of pulmonary lesions and pleural affection. Apx III- and Apx IV-toxin DNA were present in the OFs of both farms whereas Apx I-toxin DNA was present on farm A only. We were able to detect Apx I-, Apx III-, and Apx IV-toxin DNA in different patterns directly after introduction of the new pigs in the farms and over the entire study period. In summary, or results indicate the suitability of OFS for the early detection and surveillance of <i>A. pleuropneumoniae</i> in fattening farms.
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