A robust vaccination protocol at the sow and finisher levels greatly contributed to a low prevalence of Lawsonia intracellularis (Li), according to the results of a recent study led by Hannah Walker, a student in the Carlson College of Veterinary Medicine at Oregon State University.
She participated in the Swine Veterinary Internship Program last summer and conducted a Li surveillance study with her host farm Country View Family Farms and sponsor Pharmgate Animal Health. She also developed a sampling method.
“Li is the organism that causes the disease known as ileitis or proliferative enteropathy,” she said during the 2025 American Association of Swine Veterinarians annual meeting. “This is an endemic disease across many systems and can be a contributor to poor growth and poor feed efficiency, thus affecting a producer’s bottom line.”
She presented the results of her study in a poster competition at AASV titled, “Developing a Lawsonia intracellularis surveillance program to define prevalence in a commercial swine operation.”
Maximize Herd Health and Efficiency
Her goal was to create a surveillance program that can be utilized by other systems to determine herd prevalence. She says this information can then be used to help make decisions on herd management and vaccination protocols.
“Understanding the prevalence of this disease in your system can help you maximize your herd health and efficiency,” Walker says.
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