EXPERIMENTALLY INDUCED PORCINE PROLIFERATIVE ENTERITIS IN SPECIFIC-PATHOGEN-FREE PIGS

  • 1 January 1982
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 43  (9) , 1615-1621
Abstract
Ten wk old, specific pathogen-free pigs (33) were randomly allotted to 3 treatment groups: group 1, intragastrically given homogenized intestinal mucosa (crude inoculum) from pigs with naturally occurring proliferative enteritis; group 2 given cultures of Campylobacter sputorum ssp. mucosalis; and group 3, controls. One pig from each group was killed 4, 7, 10, 14, 18, 21, 24, 28, 31, 36 and 38 days after inoculation. The earliest intestinal lesion observed in groups 1 and 2 was leukocytic exudate within crypt lumina and focal inflammation of the surrounding lamina propria. The lesions occurred primarily over ileal aggregated lymphoid nodules (Peyer''s patches). These changes were followed by focal proliferation of immature crypt epithelial cells and infiltration of increasing numbers of macrophages into the lamina propria. Campylobacter sp.-like organisms were observed within the cytoplasm of affected epithelial cells by light microscopy and EM. Lesions progressed to diffuse crypt cell proliferation, elongation of crypts and loss of villi. Mucosal necrosis was not a prominent feature.