Question of the Day

Porcine proliferative enteritis/adenomatosis (PPE) is a hemorrhagic diarrheal disease caused by Lawsonia intracellularis. 

PPE is a common diarrheal disease of growing swine. It causes lesions mainly in the small intestine, which differentiates it from other causes of bloody diarrhea in growing swine, i.e.: Brachyspira hyodysenteriae – cause of swine dysentery, affects colon/cecum and salmonellosis, affects colon and small intestine.

PPE is often a mild and self-limiting condition. In some cases, however, there can be persistent diarrhea, severe necrotic enteritis, or hemorrhagic enteritis with high mortality.

Image courtesy of Meghann Pierdon, VMD, DACAW.