<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p>Proliferative enteropathy, also known as proliferative ileitis, is considered to be one of the most economically important diseases in pig production worldwide. The estimated losses per affected growing pig usually range from US $1 to $5. The disease is caused by <italic>Lawsonia intracellularis</italic>, a Gram-negative, obligately intracellular bacterium. Control of the disease can be achieved with the use of vaccines or antibiotics. Recently there has been an increase in the efforts in the control of certain pathologies of the digestive system with phytogenic additives. The aim of this work was to assess the effects of a phytogenic additive on the histomorphometric characteristics of the intestines in weaned pigs with a subclinical infection with <italic>L. intracellularis</italic> acquired spontaneously. Histomorphometry analysis showed that crypt depth was significantly shorter (P&lt;0.05), and the villus-height-to-crypt-depth ratio (P&lt;0.05) significantly greater in the treatment group than the control. This improvement in the histological parameters of the intestine, considered to be indicators of its health, proved the positive effect of the tested additive on the digestive system in pigs.</p></abstract>

Proliferative enteropathy, also known as proliferative ileitis, is considered to be one of the most economically important diseases in pig production worldwide. The estimated losses per affected growing pig usually range from US $1 to $5. The disease is caused by Lawsonia intracellularis, a Gram-negative, obligately intracellular bacterium. Control of the disease can be achieved with the use of vaccines or antibiotics. Recently there has been an increase in the efforts in the control of certain pathologies of the digestive system with phytogenic additives. The aim of this work was to assess the effects of a phytogenic additive on the histomorphometric characteristics of the intestines in weaned pigs with a subclinical infection with L. intracellularis acquired spontaneously. Histomorphometry analysis showed that crypt depth was significantly shorter (P<0.05), and the villus-height-to-crypt-depth ratio (P<0.05) significantly greater in the treatment group than the control. This improvement in the histological parameters of the intestine, considered to be indicators of its health, proved the positive effect of the tested additive on the digestive system in pigs.

The Effects of a Phytogenic Additive on the Histomorphometric Characteristics of the Intestines in Weaned Pigs with a Subclinical Natural Infection with <italic>Lawsonia intracellularis</italic>

Department of Animal Hygiene, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine

Department of Biology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine

Department of Food Hygiene and Technology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine

Department of Veterinary Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine

Acta Veterinaria

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

The Effects of a Phytogenic Additive on the Histomorphometric Characteristics of the Intestines in Weaned Pigs with a Subclinical Natural Infection with 

Proliferative enteropathy, also known as proliferative ileitis, is considered to be one of the most economically important diseases in pig production...

The Effects of a Phytogenic Additive on the Histomorphometric Characteristics of the Intestines in Weaned Pigs with a Subclinical Natural Infection with Lawsonia intracellularis

Published Online: Apr 03, 2020

Page range: 81 - 91

Accepted: Mar 03, 2020

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/acve-2020-0006

Keywords
proliferative enteropathy, phytogenic feed additive, histomorphometry

© 2020 Drašković Vladimir et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

The Effects of a Phytogenic Additive on the Histomorphometric Characteristics of the Intestines in Weaned Pigs with a Subclinical Natural Infection with Lawsonia intracellularis

Published Online: Apr 03, 2020

Page range: 81 - 91

Accepted: Mar 03, 2020

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/acve-2020-0006

Keywordsproliferative enteropathy, phytogenic feed additive, histomorphometry

© 2020 Drašković Vladimir et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Keywords
proliferative enteropathy, phytogenic feed additive, histomorphometry