Diagnostic
Specimens and Tests for the Major Porcine Diseases
Disease Suspected |
Specimen |
Sample Preparation |
Laboratory Procedure |
Abortion |
Foetus: liver,
kidney, stomach content, thoracic fluid.
Placenta. Swabs Sow: paired sera |
Refrigerate |
Culture-Sensitivity Leptospira-FAT Parvovirus EM Serology |
Actinobacillus
pleuropneumoniae |
Lung Swabs Serum |
Refrigerate |
Culture-Sensitivity Serotyping Serology CF 1:4 suspect CF 1:8 positive |
Anthrax |
Impression smear
from retropharyneal fluid in swollen neck |
|
Stain for Bacillus – capsule does not form readily
in pigs |
Arthritis |
Exudate, joint
fluid, synovia swab and tissue Joint fluid Whole joint –
piglet and weaner |
Refrigerate Formalin Refrigerate |
Culture-Sensitivity Histopathology Serology |
Atrophic
Rhinitis |
Snout,
turbinates, nasal swab and tissue Nasal Section Nasal swab
|
Refrigerate Formalin |
Culture-Sensitivity Pm toxin test Histopathology View and Score ELISA toxin presence |
Circovirus
II |
Swollen lymph nodes, selected tissues |
Formalin |
Histopathology IFA and IHC |
Coccidiosis |
Faeces Small intestine
smear (wash away faeces first) |
Refrigerate Air dried smear Formalin |
Smear, flotation Histopathology |
Colibacillosis |
Several acutely
affected pigs Duodenum,
mesenteric lymph nodes, liver smears and tissue. Note alkaline pH of contents. |
Live Refrigerate Formalin |
Culture-Sensitivity Serotyping Histopathology Toxin gene
typing PCR |
Colostrum
|
Heart Blood |
Refrigerate |
IgG > 10 mg/ml normal |
Cryptosporidium |
Small intestine
smear and tissue |
Refrigerate Formalin |
Smear Histopathology |
Cystitis/ pyelonephritis |
Renal pelvis |
Refrigerate |
Culture-sensitivity
anaerobic |
Cytomegalovirus |
Turbinates,
lung, kidney |
Formalin |
Histopathology |
Enteritis
(non-specific) |
Acutely affected
pigs pH of contents Small &
large intestine, liver, mesenteric lymph node swab. smear, tissue Intestine
content |
Live Refrigerate Formalin Contents |
View villi Acid viral Alkaline E. coli Culture-Sensitivity Smear
Clostridium Rotavirus Histopathology Clostridial
toxin |
Enzootic/
Mycoplasma pneumonia |
Lung, respiratory lymph nodes, swab and tissue Serum |
Refrigerate Formalin |
View and score Culture-sensitivity IHC PCR Serology S/P <0.3 negative 0.3-0.4 suspect > 0.4 positive |
Erysipelas |
Heart, lymph
node, liver, spleen, swollen joints swabs. Serum |
Refrigerate Formalin |
Culture-Sensitivity Serology Histopathology |
Genetic
examination |
Blood sample
unclotted Tissue Note use
separate needle for each pig |
Separate needle Refrigerate/ freeze |
PCR |
Haemophilus parasuis (Glasser's
disease polyserositis) |
Sick pig Cavity of joint
fluids Serous
membranes, meninges, lung Serum Note organism
dies rapidly |
Live Refrigerate Formalin |
Culture-Sensitivity Serotyping Serology Histopathology |
Greasy
Pig |
Affected animal
swabs from skin |
Live Refrigerate |
Culture-Sensitivity |
Ileitis
(Lawsonia intracellularis) |
Ileum Tissue |
Formalin Fresh
refrigerate |
Histopathology PCR IHC |
Influenza |
Trachea, lung, nasal swabs (in transport media) Serum |
Refrigerate Formalin |
Virus Isolation Immunoperoxidase PRC Serology HI > 1:40 positive |
Leptospira |
Foetus: kidney,
thoracic fluid swab and smear Oviduct smear |
Refrigerate |
FAT Serology 1:100 suspect 1:200 diagnostic |
Mastitis |
Difficult to get
a diagnostic sample |
Refrigerate |
Culture and
identification |
Meningitis |
CSF (Cerebral
spinal fluid) before cutting the skin of the head Brain and
meninges |
Refrigerate Formalin |
Culture and
identification Histopathology |
Mulberry
Heart |
Heart and Liver |
Formalin |
Histopathology |
Mycoplasma arthritis |
Joint serosa Joint fluid |
Formalin Refrigerate |
Histopathology Serology |
Mycoplasma
haemosuis |
Blood smear |
Air dry |
|
Mycotoxins |
Tissues – submit
at least 100g Food materials –
submit at least 1 kg (avoid condensation and fugal growth during transport) |
Freeze Place feed in
paper bag |
|
Oedema
Disease |
Stomach,
intestine, kidney, brain, liver Sick live pig |
Refrigerate Formalin |
Culture-Sensitivity Serotyping Histopathology |
Parvovirus
(PPV) |
Foetus: liver,
thoracic fluid Sow: paired sera |
Refrigerate |
EM Serology |
PMWS |
Lymph nodes – 5
from around the bodies |
Formalin |
Histopathology |
PRCV |
Serum Lung tissue |
Formalin |
Serology (note
differential test re-TGE) IHC |
PRRSv |
Lung tissue Thymus Tonsilar scrape
and biopsy – use Dacron swab Blood serum via Dacron swab Serum |
Refrigerate Formalin |
Virus Isolation Histopathology IHC PCR Sequencing Serology |
Rotavirus |
Middle and lower
jejunum, upper ileum, faeces |
Refrigerate Formalin |
Latex
agglutination. Histopathology IHC |
Salmonellosis |
Live sick pig |
Refrigerate |
Culture-Sensitivity Serotyping |
Streptococcus |
Brain, CSF,
lung, joint Serum |
Refrigerate |
Culture-Sensitivity Serotyping IHC Serology |
Swine
Dysentery |
Affected pigs faeces, colon |
Live Refrigerate Formalin |
Culture-Sensitivity Darkfield Histopathology IHC PCR |
Transmissible
Gastroenteritis (TGE) |
Affected pigs faeces, small
intestine contents and tissue Serum Jejunal contents
acidic |
Live Formalin |
Histopathology IHC Serology NA 1:4 positive |
Water depravation |
Brain |
Formalin |
Histopathology |
Abbreviations
CF = Compliment Fixation
ELISA = Enzyme-linked
Immunosorbant assay
EM = Electron Microscopy
FAT = Fluorescent antibody test
IFA = Indirect Fluorescent
Antibody
IHC = Immunohistochemistry
PCR = Polymerase chain reaction