Pathogens Detected in 205 German Farms with Porcine Neonatal Diarrhea in 2017.

Neonatal diarrhea (ND) is still a frequently observed problem in modern industrial pig production. ND is predominantly caused by bacterial and viral pathogens. The objective of this study was to give an overview of different pathogens involved in ND in Germany. In 2017, a total number of 555 litters from 205 German pig farms with clinical ND were sampled with pooled fecal samples. All samples were analyzed regarding bacterial pathogens by culture and viral pathogens by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Isolated strains of () , () , and were further characterized by molecular techniques (e.g., PCR). There were 200 litters (36%), out of 555 sampled litters of 205 farms, which were positive for at least one, while most of them were positive for two or more pathogens. Toxin-producing type A could be detected in 122 farms (59.2%), in 116 (56.1%), pathogenic in 79 (38.6%), and Rotavirus type A in 72 (35%). Among isolates, enterotoxigenic (8.8%) (F4 fimbriae positive (60.0%)) and necrotoxigenic (5.3%) were the most frequently detected pathotypes. In conclusion, in most of the farms with porcine ND it turned out to be a disease mainly caused by multiple pathogens, predominantly type A, pathogenic , and Rotavirus type A. Nevertheless, and necrotoxigenic might be emerging pathogens in ND.