CAMPYLOBACTER MICROAGGLUTINATION TESTS OF SWINE WITH PROLIFERATIVE ENTERITIS

  • 1 January 1984
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 45  (7) , 1373-1378
Abstract
A microagglutination test was developed to determine campylobacter titers in swine with proliferative enteritis. Formalinized whole cell antigens from 24 Campylobacter isolates, including C. hyointestinalis (CHI), C. sputorum ssp. mucosalis (CSM), C. jejuni (CJC), C. fetus ssp. fetus (CFF) and C. fecalis (CF), were tested with 9 rabbit antisera prepared against each of 3 strains of CHI, CSM and CJC. The CHI appeared to be antigenically homogeneous. All 6 isolates of CHI agglutinated with homologous antisera at high dilutions and did not react with CSM antisera. Of 6 isolates of CSM, 5 agglutinated with homologous antisera; 1 isolate did not. Seven strains of CJC autoagglutinated in saline solution and various antisera. Of 3 CJC antisera, 1 cross-reacted with CHI and CSM antigens at high dilutions. The antigens from 5 strains of CFF and CF did not react with CHI, CSM and CJC antisera. A survey of sera from 1052 adult pigs from production herds indicated that the majority had high titers to CHI and CSM (mean, in log2: CHI = 5.57, CSM = 6.05). Similar titers were found in weaned pigs from 3 herds with the disease and 2 of 3 herds without the disease. Pigs with confirmed lesions of proliferative enteritis had low titers (mean in log2: CHI = 2.44, CSM = 3.11). Agglutinating antibodies to CHI and CSM were transmitted from farrowing gilts to neonatal pigs via colostrum. The acquired antibodies decayed to low levels in pigs at 4 wk of age (mean in log2: CHI = 1.09, CSM = 1.27).