Comparison of a commercial ELISA with an indirect fluorescent antibody test to detect antibodies to Lawsonia intracellularis in experimentally challenged pigs.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: The ability of a new commercial ELISA to detect pigs with subclinical proliferative enteropathy (PE) was compared with the traditional indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT). METHODS: Serum samples were selected from pigs with known Lawsonia intracellularis infection status and clinical signs of PE, but the sample population consisted predominantly of pigs subclinically affected by PE. RESULTS: Significant association and agreement were shown between the ELISA and IFAT assays. ELISA results correlated well with the duration of L. intracellularis shedding as detected by polymerase chain reaction. CONCLUSION: ELISA can be successfully used to monitor L. intracellularis infection in pigs.