INDICATION OF TOXINE FORMING STRAINS OF P ASTEURELLA-MULTOCIDA BY NASAL AND TONSIL SWABS - A FEASIBLE METHOD TO CONTROL RHINITIS ATROPHICANS IN BREEDING HERDS - COMPARISON WITH OTHER METHODS

Nasal, and partly tonsil swabs from pigs have been investigated by cel l culture and ELISA respectively on toxigenic Pasteurella multocida st rains. The controlled animals are from 89 non atrophic rhinitis- and 4 2 a.r.-positive herds. Toxine forming strains could not be isolated in non suspicious herds. 23 out of 42 infected herds showed toxigenic Pa steurellae. Despite a high increase in sample numbers, Pasteurella cou ld not be detected in 19 infected herds (45 %). When diagnosing atroph ic rhinitis, we thus recommend to rely only on positive results of iso lation. In all other cases, all other methods will have to be used in combination. Further research is necessary to find safe and fast test methods. According to recent experience, the blood-serological toxine screening test can be considered useful.