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Veterinary pathology2014; 51(2); 465-477; doi: 10.1177/0300985813520249

Recent advances in understanding the pathogenesis of Lawsonia intracellularis infections.

Abstract: Proliferative enteropathy is an infectious disease caused by an obligate intracellular bacterium, Lawsonia intracellularis, and characterized by thickening of the intestinal epithelium due to enterocyte proliferation. The disease is endemic in swine herds and has been occasionally reported in various other species. Furthermore, outbreaks among foals began to be reported on breeding farms worldwide within the past 5 years. Cell proliferation is directly associated with bacterial infection and replication in the intestinal epithelium. As a result, mild to severe diarrhea is the major clinical sign described in infected animals. The dynamics of L. intracellularis infection in vitro and in vivo have been well characterized, but little is known about the genetic basis for the pathogenesis or ecology of this organism. The present review focuses on the recent advances regarding the pathogenesis and host-pathogen interaction of L. intracellularis infections.
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Publication Date: 2014-01-29 PubMed ID: 24476941DOI: 10.1177/0300985813520249Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

This research article concerns the development of understanding about the infectious disease, Proliferative enteropathy – caused by the bacterium Lawsonia intracellularis. The paper discusses the mechanism of the disease and the host-pathogen interaction.

Introduction of the Research Paper

  • The research paper is an in-depth study of proliferative enteropathy, a bacterial disease caused by Lawsonia intracellularis.
  • The particular bacterium is unique as it obligates to survive inside the cells of its host.
  • The disease is marked by the thickening of the intestinal epithelium due to the abnormal proliferation of enterocytes (intestinal cells).
  • It is a well-known disease in swine herds but is also found in a variety of other species.

Disease Outbreak and Symptoms

  • In recent years, the disease became relevant due to an increased number of cases reported in foals worldwide.
  • The onset of this disease is directly related to bacterial infection and replication within the intestinal epithelium.
  • The most common clinical sign of this disease is mild to severe diarrhea in the infected animals due to disturbances in their intestinal functioning.

Understanding of the Disease

  • Despite a well-documented understanding of how L. intracellularis functions within the host in both in-vitro and in-vivo environments, knowledge about its genetics, pathogenesis, and interaction with ecological factors remains limited.
  • This research serves to bridge this gap by summarizing the latest findings on the genetics and ecology of L. intracellularis and its host-pathogen interactions.
  • The purpose of this study is to boost the comprehension of the pathogenesis of Lawsonia intracellularis infections and to expand the existing knowledge about this bacterium in order to develop more effective preventive and therapeutic strategies.

Cite This Article

APA
Vannucci FA, Gebhart CJ. (2014). Recent advances in understanding the pathogenesis of Lawsonia intracellularis infections. Vet Pathol, 51(2), 465-477. https://doi.org/10.1177/0300985813520249

Publication

Veterinary pathology
ISSN: 1544-2217
NlmUniqueID: 0312020
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 51
Issue: 2
Pages: 465-477

Researcher Affiliations

Vannucci, F A
  • Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, 1971 Commonwealth Avenue, St Paul, MN 55108, USA. Email: gebha001@umn.edu.
Gebhart, C J

    MeSH Terms

    • Animals
    • Cell Proliferation
    • Desulfovibrionaceae Infections / immunology
    • Desulfovibrionaceae Infections / microbiology
    • Desulfovibrionaceae Infections / pathology
    • Desulfovibrionaceae Infections / veterinary
    • Disease Outbreaks
    • Enterocytes
    • Genome, Bacterial / genetics
    • Horse Diseases / immunology
    • Horse Diseases / microbiology
    • Horse Diseases / pathology
    • Horses
    • Host-Pathogen Interactions
    • Lawsonia Bacteria / genetics
    • Lawsonia Bacteria / pathogenicity
    • Lawsonia Bacteria / physiology
    • Swine
    • Swine Diseases / immunology
    • Swine Diseases / microbiology
    • Swine Diseases / pathology

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    This article has been cited 43 times.
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