SERASCA®-test sampling strategy:
For analysis on the SERASCA®-test 10 blood samples need to be collected from fattening pigs towards the end of the fattening period (>100kg). The result of the serodiagnostic analysis of these blood samples will indicate whether the tested pigs have been exposed to migrating larvae and/or adult Ascaris worms. A higher test result means higher exposure to the parasite which reflects the general infection pressure in the stable.
Sampling should be done at the end of fattening!
The older the pigs are, the higher the chance that they will have been exposed to the parasite if it is present in the pig pen. In experimental conditions it takes a minimum of 8 weeks after initial exposure for most of the pigs to become seropositive (see figure 1). However, in pens where infection pressure is lower, seroconversion might be slower. Therefore, sampling at the oldest age is suggested since this will reduce the chances of false negative results!
Figure 1: The mean SERASCA®-test results from 10 pigs infected 5 times a week with 100 infective A. suum eggs for 14 weeks. The horizontal line indicates the cut-off value of 0.500.
A minimum of 10 blood samples per stable is required!
We recommend sampling 10 pigs per stable. If a lower number of samples is provided, the chances of obtaining a false negative result increase significantly since there is a reasonable heterogeneity within the pig population regarding their response to parasite infection.
