Porcine proliferative enteropathy, commonly called ileitis, is a widespread intestinal disease in pigs causing chronic diarrhea, weight loss, and significant welfare impacts across global pig farming.
Ileitis imposes a sustained welfare burden on affected pigs through chronic nutritional deprivation and gastrointestinal discomfort. Pigs with chronic ileitis fail to absorb adequate nutrients despite eating, resulting in a wasting condition that affects energy, immune function, and the ability to compete socially for resources. The acute hemorrhagic form kills rapidly with severe internal bleeding — a devastating welfare event. The high prevalence of subclinical disease in many commercial herds means welfare impacts are widespread even when not obviously apparent. Vaccination programs address both the welfare cost and the economic loss from ileitis simultaneously.