Transmissible gastro-enteritis of swine in the netherlands the application of the direct fluorescent antibody techique for diagnosis.

The epizootiology of transmissible gastro-enteritis (TGE) of swine in 1975 and 1976 in the Netherlands was studied. Diagnosis was made by the direct fluorescent antibody technique (FAT). Specimens from the small intestine of suspected animals were examined for this purpose. The results obtained by the direct FAT were proved to be reliable, if the specimens were derived from acutely sick animals and examination could be carried out as soon as possible. The results confirmed that TGE occured in any season of the year. The peaks of epizootic outbreaks were in the spring and winter of those years.