Subsistence swine farming: seroprevalence and risk factors associated with Lawsonia intracellularis infection in the state of Minas Gerais Brazil in 2016

Although it is considered an economically relevant and prevalent disease, little information is available on the epidemiology and risk factors of porcine proliferative enteropathy (PPE) in commercial pigs, and no publication is available on subsistence pig farming. The objectives of this study were to estimate the seroprevalence of L. intracellularis and identify associated risk factors in backyard pigs in the 12 mesoregions of the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. Blood from pigs between 2 months and 6 years of age were sampled; an epidemiological questionnaire was applied to 288 properties investigated in 2016. Serum samples were tested for the presence of anti-L. intracellularis antibodies using an immunoperoxidase monolayer assay. The seroprevalence of L. intracellularis was 97.7% (CI 95%: 96.7–98.4), and there was no statistical difference among the prevalence of the sampled mesoregions. Only 3 of the 12 risk factors were significant when samples were analyzed from strongly seropositive animals (≥ 1:120) in a Poisson multivariate regression model. There was an interaction between properties in peri-urban areas and extensive production systems. This interaction demonstrated an increase in prevalence rates by 3.7 times (95%CI: 2.4–5.8). Properties close to dumps demonstrated an increase in prevalence rates by 2.2 times (95%CI: 0.99–4.8). In conclusion, anti-L. intracellularis antibodies were widely dispersed in subsistence pig farming’s in Minas Gerais, indicating a wide circulation of the agent in this type of production system. The interactions of animals raised close to peri-urban areas, extensively, and close to landfills are risk factors for spread of PPE.