In pigs, Lawsonia infection causes porcine proliferative enteropathy characterized by which pattern?

In pigs, Lawsonia infection causes porcine proliferative enteropathy characterized by which pattern?

• A. High morbidity with diarrhea ranging from chronic intermittent to acute hemorrhagic, and reduced weight gain
• B. Low morbidity and cattle respiratory disease
• C. Acute neurological signs
• D. Skin lesions and pruritus

Answer: (A)

Lawsonia intracellularis causes proliferative enteropathy in pigs, a disease of the intestinal tract where the mucosa becomes hyperplastic and thickened, especially in the ileum and proximal colon. This pathologic change leads to malabsorption and disruption of normal gut function, which manifests clinically as diarrhea that can be chronic and intermittent or acute and hemorrhagic, along with reduced weight gain and appetite. The pattern described—high morbidity with diarrhea of varying severity and poor growth—is characteristic of porcine proliferative enteropathy in groups of pigs. Other choices describe conditions or signs that aren’t typical for this infection in pigs (such as diseases primarily affecting cattle respiratory health, acute neurological signs, or skin lesions), so they don’t fit the common presentation of Lawsonia-induced disease.

Lawsonia intracellularis causes proliferative enteropathy in pigs, a disease of the intestinal tract where the mucosa becomes hyperplastic and thickened, especially in the ileum and proximal colon. This pathologic change leads to malabsorption and disruption of normal gut function, which manifests clinically as diarrhea that can be chronic and intermittent or acute and hemorrhagic, along with reduced weight gain and appetite. The pattern described—high morbidity with diarrhea of varying severity and poor growth—is characteristic of porcine proliferative enteropathy in groups of pigs.

Other choices describe conditions or signs that aren’t typical for this infection in pigs (such as diseases primarily affecting cattle respiratory health, acute neurological signs, or skin lesions), so they don’t fit the common presentation of Lawsonia-induced disease.