[Use of various methods of sampling and various culture media in the isolation of Bordetella bronchiseptica from swine in the field (author's transl)].

During eleven visits to nine pig-breeding farms and multiplying herds, 190 piglets were sampled by three different methods. The nares were separately sampled and both nares were sampled with a single swab. Three media were used to discover which method and which medium produced the highest isolation-score for Bordetella bronchiseptica (BB). The CDI-Mac Conkey (McC-CDI) plate was used as a reference medium and was compared with the Gezondheidsdienst Mac Conkey (McC-GD) and the new Bordetella plate (Bord.pl). Of the 570 samples collected 303 were positive for Bordetella bronchiseptica. When the McC-CDI BB was used, the score was 286, when the McC-GD was used, it was 264 and when the Bord.pl. was used 277, and BB was present on each of the three plates in 243 cases. When both nares of each piglet were separately sampled, 94 per cent, 87 per cent and 85 per cent of the BB positive-piglets were found to be positive with respectively McC-CDI, McC-GD and the Bord.pl. Sampling each nare with one swab, produced an average BB score of approximately 80 per cent and both nares with a single swab approximately 85 per cent of the BB-positive pigs. Statistical testing showed the McC-CDI to be significantly (P = 0,05) superior to the Bord.pl.