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Porcine isosporosis: Infection dynamics, pathophysiology and immunology of experimental infections

Ferkelisosporose: Infektionsdynamik, Pathophysiologie und Immunologie experimenteller Infektionen

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Zusammenfassung

Isospora suis ist ein einzelliger Parasit des Schweins und der Erreger der Saugferkelkokzidiose. Diese Erkrankung zeigt eine hohe Morbidität in betroffenen Ferkelzuchtbetrieben und ist damit ein wichtiger wirtschaftlicher Faktor in der Schweineproduktion. Im Verlauf der Infektion wird die Schleimhaut des Dünndarmepithels in Jejunum und Ileum stark geschädigt, was zu charakteristischen unblutigen Durchfällen führt. Eine Folge der reduzierten Nährstoffaufnahme im so geschädigten Dünndarm sind verminderte Absetzgewichte und ein starkes Auseinanderwachsen der Würfe, zusätzlich können Sekundärinfektionen mit anderen Darmpathogenen die Mortalitätsrate erhöhen. Trotz der wirtschaftlichen und veterinärmedizinischen Bedeutung der Saugferkelkokzidiose sind die Interaktionen zwischen Wirt und Parasit bislang nur unzureichend aufgeklärt. Dieser Übersichtsartikel befasst sich mit dem Lebenszyklus von I. suis und den klinischen und parasitologischen Charakteristika der Saugferkelkokzidiose. Weiters werden verschiedene Modelle der experimentellen Infektion und etablierte in vitro-Methoden zur Erforschung von I. suis vorgestellt. Er gibt einen Überblick über die natürliche Altersresistenz gegen Infektionen mit I. suis, die Immunantwort verschiedener Wirte bei anderen Kokzidieninfektionen (Eimeria spp., Cryptosporidium muris) und eine Zusammenfassung der Besonderheiten des Immunsystems des Schweins und seiner Entwicklung in den ersten Lebenswochen.

Summary

Isospora suis, an intestinal protozoan parasite of swine, is the causative agent of neonatal coccidiosis, a disease with high morbidity in affected pig-breeding units and consequently of high economic importance. Infection leads to damage of the mucosal surface in the jejunum and ileum and to non-haemorrhagic diarrhoea. As a result, weight gain of piglets is reduced and secondary infections with other enteric pathogens may lead to increased mortality. Despite its economic and veterinary importance, host-parasite interactions are still poorly understood. To examine these interactions experimental infection models are established using outbred piglets infected with defined numbers of parasites on different days of life. This review discusses the life cycle of Isospora suis and the clinical and parasitological characteristics of porcine neonatal coccidiosis including pathology, and compare the different experimental infection models and the tools for studying Isospora suis in vitro. Moreover, it summarises findings about natural age resistance of pigs against infections with Isospora suis, our current knowledge about immune response to other coccidial infections, e.g. with Eimeria spp. in different hosts, and gives a short overview on peculiarities of the porcine immune system and its development in young animals which may play a role in porcine coccidiosis.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Parasitology and Zoology, Department of Pathobiology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria

    Hanna L. Worliczek, Marc Buggelsheim & Anja Joachim

  2. Clinical Immunology, Clinical Department for Diagnostic Imaging, Infectious Diseases and Clinical Pathology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria

    Armin Saalmüller

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  1. Hanna L. Worliczek
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  2. Marc Buggelsheim
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Worliczek, H., Buggelsheim, M., Saalmüller, A. et al. Porcine isosporosis: Infection dynamics, pathophysiology and immunology of experimental infections. Wien Klin Wochenschr 119 (Suppl 3), 33–39 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00508-007-0859-3

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