Serological Assessment of <i>Ascaris suum</i> Exposure in Greek Pig Farms and Associated Risk Factors Including <i>Lawsonia intracellularis</i>
Panagiotis Tassis,
Isaia Symeonidou,
Athanasios I. Gelasakis,
Michalis Kargaridis,
George Aretis,
Konstantinos V. Arsenopoulos,
Eleni Tzika,
Elias Papadopoulos
Affiliations
Panagiotis Tassis
Farm Animals Clinic, School of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54627 Thessaloniki, Greece
Isaia Symeonidou
Laboratory of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, School of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece
Athanasios I. Gelasakis
Laboratory of Anatomy and Physiology of Farm Animals, Department of Animal Science, School of Animal Biosciences, Agricultural University of Athens, 11855 Athens, Greece
Michalis Kargaridis
Gerolymatos International SA, 13 Asklipiou St., Kryoneri, 14568 Athens, Greece
Laboratory of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, School of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece
Eleni Tzika
Farm Animals Clinic, School of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54627 Thessaloniki, Greece
Elias Papadopoulos
Laboratory of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, School of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece
The effects of nematodes and bacteria on intestinal health are of primary importance in modern swine production. The aim of the present study was to assess the seropositivity status of Ascaris suum infection in fatteners in intensive swine farms in Greece and address possible risk factors, including Lawsonia intracellularis as a predisposing factor to swine ascariosis. In total, 360 blood serum samples from pigs in the late fattening period, from 24 Greek swine farrow-to-finish farms (15 samples/farm) were collected and tested with Svanovir® A. suum antibody ELISA and Ileitis antibody ELISA. The results demonstrated 34.4% seropositive samples for A. suum and 42.2% for L. intracellularis. The analysis of predisposing risk factors suggested that the frequency of application of anthelminthic treatment to sows more than two times per year was significantly associated with the lower likelihood of A. suum infection, whereas a greater likelihood of A. suum infection was observed in pigs with concurrent L. intracellularis exposure. The results highlight the importance of proper anthelminthic metaphylaxis of the breeding stock, as well as the likely outcome of concurrent exposure to two intestinal pathogens in pigs, implying a possible association between intestinal nematodes and bacteria in swine.
