Collection of samples

Which material for which diagnostic purpose ?

The clinical usability and thus the significance of examination results depends mainly on the collection and selection of samples and their transport to the laboratory. We will gladly advise you on the selection of suitable examination material regarding your inquiery.

Animal carcasses

 For general clarification of the cause of disease and death:

- Delivery of freshly dead, preferably alive swine
- Carrying out a macroscopic examination with targeted, appropriate sampling at the site of infection for further investigations

Advantage: possibility of weighting various organ changes with pathogen detection 

Feces

Useful if enteropathogenic pathogens are suspected, e.g. Brachyspira spp, E. coli, Clostridium perfringens, Salmonella ssp., rota and corona viruses,
parasites etc. 
Useful for the detection of Lawsonia intracellularis only in acute clinical cases (for chronic disease: ileum mucosa from dissection or from the slaughterhouse)
Useful for coccidia detection, please note: oocysts only present in the feces from the 4th-5th day after infection (native, 3 - 5 g feces directly from the infected animal (possibly freshly removed from the stable floor)
Useful if subclinical salmonellosis is suspected - fecal samples taken at different times

Rectal swabs in transport medium : more suitable for cultivating anaerobic pathogens such as Clostridium perfringens or Brachyspira spp.; not suitable for PCR tests (use synthetic swabs without transport medium instead)

Nasal swabs

Useful for suspected rhinitis atrophicans pathogens, send in transport medium
Useful for suspected influenza virus infection, submission of synthetic swabs without transport medium
Useful for suspected Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae  

-Submission of synthetic swabs without transport medium
-Not suitable for the diagnosis of lung pathogens (switch to bronchioalveolar lavage)

Cervical swab - Uterine swab

Useful for ruling out bacterial fertility disorders
- take with speculum
- in transport medium     
- alternatively, use uteri from the abattoir

Skin scraping

If Staphylococcus hyicus infection is suspected:

- Press skin scrapings into the transport medium

If ectoparasites are suspected:

- Skin scraping native

Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF)

Useful for identifying lung pathogens intra vitam

- should be prepared within 2-4 hours (otherwise there is a risk of overgrowth with accompanying flora and non-growth of haemophilic bacteria)
- Store sample at refrigerator temperature

Serum

-For direct pathogen detection of PRRSV/PCV2 using PCR
-For indirect pathogen detection of PRRSV, M. hyopneumoniae, influenza using ELISA

Urine

- cooling during whole transport 
- useful for suspected urinary tract infections
- Midstream urine        
- Catheter urine for anaerobic diagnostic of Actinobaculum suis (sample must be prepared immediately)
- for bacterial count determination urine with Uricult-test (on site)

Synovial fluid

- useful for suspected bacterial arthritis
- Iimmediate transfer of an aliquot of the sample to a special transport medium is necessary for the cultivation of mycoplasmas

Organs and organ parts

Freshly sent slaughterhouse material (e.g. uteri, lungs, intestinal tract (e.g. for PIA diagnostics)

General note

For bacteriological and virological detection using PCR and for the cultivation of viruses, please leave the sample material as it was taken or use synthetically produced swabs, e.g. microfiber or calcium alginate swabs without transport medium.