Use of a DNA probe to detect the intracellular organism of proliferative enteritis in swine feces.

A method of extracting bacterial DNA from swine feces was developed and used in a molecular assay for the presence of ileal symbiont (IS) intracellularis, formerly known as the Campylobacter-like organism associated with swine with proliferative enteritis. Hybridization with a digoxigenin-labeled, IS intracellularis-specific probe detected the presence of IS intracellularis at a concentration of 10(7) organisms/g of feces. This method was sufficient to detect IS intracellularis in the feces of swine with experimentally induced and naturally acquired infection. Results of the hybridization were in agreement with those from histologic postmortem examination.