Regional ileitis in pigs isolation of Campylobacter from affected ileal mucosa.

In the last few years special interest has been focused on enteric diseases localized to the lower alimentary tract, especially the ileum of weaned pigs. An increasing frequency of disorders of unknown aetiology described as regional ileitis 1951), necrotic enteritis 1970), and intestinal adenomatosis 1973) has been reported. The changes include thickening of the ileal mucosa with hypertrophy of the muscular wall. The normal structure of villi is replaced by a proliferation of crypt cells. Necrosis of the mucosa and granulation-tissue proliferation in the submucosa occur in later stages. Regional ileitis in man 1932) which is described as a chronic enteric disease with granulomatous inflammatory changes localized to segments of the ileum is also attracting increasing attention in medical research 1972). The lesions are also found in the colon, and the presence of a transmissible agent involved in the aetiology of Crohn's disease has been discussed on the basis of animal experiments 1973). The disease in pigs is accompanied by haematological changes, including decreased concentration of total serum protein, albumin, alkaline phosphatase, and zinc 1974, 1976).