Molecular and serological investigation of Lawsonia intracellularis in weanling foals in Turkey

Equine proliferative enteropathy caused by Lawsonia intracellularis has been described in weanlings in many different countries including the USA, Western Europe, Israel, Korea and Brazil but not investigated in Turkey and Eastern Europe. The objective of the study was to determine the seroprevalence and fecal shedding of L. intracellularis in weanling foals. A cross-sectional study was designed in randomly selected 97 weanling foals with or without clinical signs from 3 different provinces of Turkey. Total protein and albumin levels in serum samples from 97 foals were measured using automated biochemistry analyser. Serum samples and fecal samples were also tested by bELISA and real-time PCR to detect L. intracellularis-specific antibodies and -DNA, respectively. Seropositivity was found to be 25.8% by bELISA. However, none of the fecal samples were positive by real-time PCR. Statistically, no significant associations were found between seropositivity and clinical signs or serum ALB/TP levels. Seropositivity indicated the exposure of weanling foal population to L. intracellularis for the first time in Turkey. Further investigations are needed to better understand the epidemiology of the disease in the weanlings as well as adult horse populations and potential wildlife resorvoirs in the country/region.