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Mesocolon edema syndrome (MES) is characterized by localized edema and inflammation of the mesocolon in pigs less than 2 weeks of age. The syndrome is strongly associated with toxin production by either Clostridium perfringens or Clostridium difficile. This study sought to quantify a perceived increase in the incidence of MES in north central United States, and to describe any differences between the prevalence of the two potential etiologic agents.
The Animal Disease Research and Diagnostic Laboratory (ADRDL, South Dakota State University), case data archive was queried for signalement, tests performed, and results within the date range of interest. Cases
were assigned to a defined dataset that reported a presenting complaint of neonatal diarrhea, had colon submitted with the case as either part of the carcass or as a tissue sample collected in the field, and had been tested both by anaerobic culture of the colon to isolate C. perfringens and by antigen capture ELISA testing of colon homogenate to detect A and B toxins of C.difficile. The dataset was then analyzed for several comparisons, including overall and annualized case incidence rates.
Over a nine year period at our laboratory (2002 through 2011), 909 defined dataset cases of neonatal pig diarrhea were submitted. Overall, (a) MES had a laboratory case incidence rate of 45.7%; (b) 78.6% of MES cases featured the isolation of C.perfringens from affected colons, and (c) the presence of C. difficile toxins were detected by antigen capture ELISA in 20.1% of MES cases.
Annualized data analysis suggested that MES has become more prevalent as a cause of neonate pig diarrhea over this interval, and that this rise in prevalence has been due to an increasing presence of C. perfringens.
Knudsen D., Daly R. Diagnostic perspectives on mesocolon edema syndrome of neonatal pigs: laboratory case incidence in the north central United States (2002-2011). 4th European Symposium of Porcine Health Management. 2012.