USE OF A DNA-PROBE TO DETECT THE INTRACELLULAR ORGANISM OF PROLIFERATIVE ENTERITIS IN SWINE FECES

A method of extracting bacterial DNA from swine feces was developed an d used in a molecular assay for the presence of ileal symbiont (IS) in tracellularis, formerly known as the Campylobacter-like organism assoc iated with swine with proliferative enteritis. Hybridization with a di goxigenin-labeled, IS intracellularis-specific probe detected the pres ence of IS intracellularis at a concentration of 10(7) organisms/g of feces. This method was sufficient to detect IS intracellularis in the feces of swine with experimentally induced and naturally acquired infe ction. Results of the hybridization were in agreement with those from histologic postmortem examination.