Porcine Health Management最新文献

Background: Streptococcus suis (S. suis) infections are responsible for a large disease burden in piglets during the nursery phase, compromising animal welfare and increasing antibiotic use. The immune gap caused by decreased maternal-derived antibodies (MDA) and insufficient levels or functionality of acquired antibodies in weaned pigs could play a role in the increased susceptibility to S. suis infections. To better understand this, two studies were performed. Study I evaluated the associations between sow antibodies in colostrum and serum, birth parameters (e.g., birth weight, colostrum intake and piglet growth) and the levels of S. suis-specific (serotypes 2 and 9) antibodies in one-day-old piglets from four farms. Subsequently, study II used one of these farms to evaluate S. suis-specific and total antibody kinetics in piglets (10 litters with 6 selected piglets per litter, total n = 60) from birth until 10 weeks of age. Additionally, tonsil swabs from sows and piglets were taken to evaluate the S. suis tonsillar carrier status (serotypes 2 and 9) before and after weaning.

Results: High variability in serum and colostrum antibody levels was observed between and within the four farms (study I). In study II, there was a decrease in S. suis-specific MDA after 24 h of age, with the lowest level occurring at approximately 18/19 days of age. Afterwards, there was an increase in specific antibodies, most likely due to acquired immunity. Colostrum intake, birth weight and 24-h weight gain after birth were important parameters that were positively associated with S. suis antibody levels in piglets after birth but also affected these antibody levels at a later age. All the piglet tonsils were colonized with S. suis serotype 9 before weaning, while the prevalence of serotype 2 increased after weaning.

Conclusions: Total Ig against S. suis in serum declined after birth and the lowest level was detected just before weaning. Farmers and veterinarians should focus on piglets with low birth weights and late-born piglets because these parameters reduce both the S. suis-specific MDA preweaning and the specific antibodies acquired postweaning. Colostrum intake and 24 h-weight gain also affect the level of S. suis specific antibodies on day 1.

Background: Stevia glycosides (SGs) have been widely used as an ideal sugar alternative in the food industry. However, the potential application of SGs mixture in the diets of weaned piglets remains unexplored. This study aimed to investigate the effect of dietary SGs mixture supplementation on growth performance, gene expression of gut chemoreceptors, and antioxidant capacity in weaned piglets.

Methods: A total of 216 weaned piglets (Duroc × Landrace × Yorkshire, 7.36 ± 0.04 kg body weight) were randomly assigned to 6 groups (6 pens/group with 6 piglets/pen), and were fed with the basal diet supplemented with 0, 100, 150, 200, 250, or 300 mg/kg SGs mixture for 42 days. The serum, liver, longissimus thoracis, and jejunal samples were collected on day 43.

Results: The results showed that inclusion the SGs mixture in the diet did not have a significant impact on growth performance from days 1 to 28 (P > 0.05). But increasing the concentration of SGs mixture tended to linearly decrease the average daily gain from days 1 to 42 (P = 0.052). However, 150 mg/kg SGs mixture supplementation significantly increased the mRNA expression of taste receptor family 1 member 2 (T1R2) and glucose transporters 2 (GLUT2) in the jejunum (P < 0.05), while 150 and 200 mg/kg SGs mixture supplementation significantly increased T1R3 mRNA expression (P < 0.05). Moreover, 150 mg/kg SGs mixture supplementation significantly reduced serum malondialdehyde content (P < 0.05). Increasing the concentration of SGs mixture linearly and quadratically increased serum total superoxide dismutase (T-SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity, as well as hepatic T-SOD, GSH-Px activity, and muscle total antioxidant capacity contents (P < 0.05). Furthermore, piglets fed a diet supplemented with 100 mg/kg SGs mixture had higher serum T-SOD, CAT, and GSH-Px activities compared with the other treatments (P < 0.05).

Conclusions: Therefore, our results suggest that dietary 100 ~ 150 mg/kg SGs mixture supplementation modulates gene expression of sweet taste recognition receptors and glucose transporters, while also enhancing the antioxidant capacity of weaned piglets.

Background: Umbilical outpouchings (UOs) in pigs are a multifactorial disease and little is known about effective prevention strategies and risk factors for UO development. UOs are common in Danish pigs and legislation complicates and increases the cost of keeping and raising pigs with UO. Recommendations for preventive measures exist but the scientific evidence behind the recommendations is often lacking. This study´s purpose was to investigate veterinarians' perspectives on UO pigs´ fitness for transport, the welfare of UO pigs, the significance of UO, risk factors for the development of UO, and the management of pigs with UO. This study´s purpose was to investigate veterinarians' perspectives on UO pigs´ fitness for transport, the welfare of UO pigs, the significance of UO, risk factors for the development of UO, and the management of pigs with UO.

Results: The survey received 93 complete responses from veterinarians working within porcine health management. Because of the large proportion of replies from Danish veterinarians, all reporting of results was divided among Danish and non-Danish veterinarians. There were no statistically significant differences between the two groups in the assessment of fitness for transport. Both groups mainly agreed to a series of statements regarding the significance of UO and risk factors for UO development. The management of UO was also similar across the groups except for the use of neonatal antibiotics which was used considerably more in Danish herds.

Conclusions: Umbilical outpouchings seem to be perceived as a challenge across pork production; affecting the welfare of the individual pig as well as the management of the entire production. There were no significant differences between Danish and non-Danish veterinarians' assessments of fitness for transport, and almost all the veterinarians agreed that some UO pigs might need special attention and care. Most would also recommend preventive measures. Despite most respondents in this survey working under the laws of the European Union, some were unaware of legislation regarding UO pigs.

Background: Digestive disorders are one of the main health problems in suckling piglets. The correct visual identification of feces in suckling piglets is an important tool for the diagnosis of enteric diseases. The aim of the present observational study was to analyze different physicochemical parameters of the feces of suckling piglets aged 0 to 21 days: visual appearance (color and consistency), fecal dry matter (FDM) content and pH. A total of 482 fecal samples were collected and visually classified into six categories: meconium, colostrum stage feces and 4 further scores according to the degree of consistency: 0 = form; 1 = pasty; 2 = liquid; and 3 = watery feces. The percentage of FDM was estimated by two drying methods, oven and microwave, doing duplicates in each one to evaluate methods, and both were compared.

Results: The most frequent colors of each feces category were dark green or dark brown for meconium; orange for colostrum; formed feces were mostly ocher and for the rest of the feces, the colors varied predominantly cream and ocher. Regarding FDM, liquid and watery categories had no statistically significant differences between them; meconium and colostrum feces FDM were not statistically different from pasty feces. The correlation coefficient between the FDM values of the duplicate analyses of the samples by both methods (oven and microwave) was very high (> 0.988). Importantly, no differences were found while comparing the results between both methods (p = 0.078), and the correlation coefficient between all samples analyzed with both methods was very high (> 0.98). Meconium was the only one that differed significantly from the rest in terms of pH.

Conclusion: The physicochemical study of the feces of suckling piglets including color, FDM and pH allowed the establishment of an objective fecal score to characterize the stools in this age group.

Background: Streptococcus suis (S. suis) is a major swine pathogen and a significant zoonotic agent, causing substantial economic losses in the swine sector and having considerable public health importance. The control and management of S. suis-related conditions has become increasingly challenging due to the multitude of involved serotypes with varying antimicrobial resistance patterns. Here, we report the serological distribution and antimicrobial susceptibility of S. suis isolates isolated form clinical samples of Hungarian large-scale swine farms.

Results: Between 2020 and 2023, altogether 296 S. suis isolates were obtained from diseased pigs of 64 Hungarian pig operations. Serotyping of the isolates was carried out by using molecular methods (cps-typing). The isolated strains belonged to 24 single cps-types. The most frequently detected cps-types during the four years of this passive survey were 9 (19.6%), 2 (19.3%), 1/2 (18.9%) and 7 (14.5%). The brain, spleen, endocardial valve thrombus and lung proved to be the most frequent site of S. suis strain isolation, and animals 29-75 days of age were affected in the highest proportion. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing of the isolates was performed by determining the minimal inhibitory concentration for 15 antimicrobial agents of veterinary and human importance using a commercial microdilution assay. More than 90% of the tested isolates proved to be susceptible to the examined beta-lactams, cephalosporins and florfenicol, as well as to rifampicin, trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole and vancomycin. Phenotypic resistance profiles (resistotypes) of clindamycin-tetracyclin (3.8%), clindamycin-erythromycin-tetracyclin (8.4%) and clindamycin-erythromycin-tetracyclin-trimethoprim / sulfamethoxazole (3.8%) were most frequently detected. Vancomycin resistance was observed in the case of 1 S. suis strain.

Conclusions: The dominance of S. suis cps-types 9, 2, 1/2 and 7 in Hungary over the four years of this study aligns with previous reports from several countries worldwide. The presence of highly susceptible S. suis isolates suggests a prudent antibiotic usage and treatment practice in the surveyed Hungarian swine operations. In contrary, the presence of several resistotypes could indicate the problem of antibiotic resistance in the future.

Background: Monitoring or surveillance of infectious diseases is crucial in terms of herd health management of livestock. Investigations of oral fluids have become an animal friendly routine strategy to monitor respiratory pathogens in pigs. Less is known about the suitability of oral fluids for the detection of enteric pathogens in swine. In the present study we evaluated the use of oral fluids to monitor B. hyodysenteriae and L. intracellularis compared to pooled fecal samples by multiplex qPCR in a pen-wise follow-up of fattening pigs. Therefore, we collected oral fluids at an age of 12, 16 and 20 weeks of life and compared them to pooled fecal samples collected from the same pens on two fattening farms.

Results: Cohen´s Kappa analysis revealed a substantial agreement between oral fluids and pooled fecal samples on pen level (Cohen´s Kappa: 0.745; p < 0.001). DNA-loads of L. intracellularis were tendentially higher (p = 0.053) in pooled fecal samples than in the corresponding OFs.

Conclusions: The present study shows that oral fluids are an appropriate tool to monitor B. hyodysenteriae and L. intracellularis on conventional fattening farms under field conditions. However, multiple pen testing should be conducted to increase the diagnostic performance and sensitivity.

Background: Group housing of sows has been extensively studied since the EU banned gestation crating. Well-managed group-housing promotes sow welfare, but the impact varies based on factors such as feeding, group characteristics, and environmental features. Adequate floor space, particularly directly post-mixing, is crucial for social interactions, natural behaviours, and to reduce injuries caused by aggression. The aim of this study was to compare two group-housing systems for gestating sows with respect to productivity, treatment frequency, and removal of sows. Both systems were static but differed in space allowance, quantity of enrichment material and feeding management. System I comprised of large sized pens with deep litter straw bedding, housing in total 40 sows, and System II of smaller sized pens with permanent access to straw, housing 8 to 10 sows.

Results: The mean parity number was 3.1 ± 1.3 in both groups. Sows housed in System I with large groups (n = 40) in large pens with deep litter straw gave birth to 16.8 ± 0.33 (Least Squares Means, LSM) piglets, compared to 15.4 ± 0.31 (LSM) for sows in System II kept in smaller groups (n = 8-10) in smaller pens (p = 0.0005). Medical treatments of sows were more frequent (p < 0.001) in System II. The incidence of replacement of sows was comparable in both systems, and there was a high occurrence of sows becoming pregnant during the subsequent insemination in both groups.

Conclusions: This study indicated that sows kept in larger groups provided with a larger floor space (a total area of 156 m², corresponding to 3.9 m² per sow) and housed on deep straw had a higher number of liveborn and weaned piglets and lower incidence of antibiotic treatments than sows with less floor space (a total area of 24.5 m², corresponding to 2.5-3.1 m² per sow) and less bedding/manipulable material.

Background: Oral fluid contains analytes that may be reflective of health and welfare in pig herds. Additionally, oral fluid collection is a more convenient and cost-effective option when compared to blood sampling, increasing the potential of oral fluid as a non-invasive alternative tool. While a growing number of biomarkers can be measured in porcine oral fluid, the use of these analytes to compare commercial herds in veterinary practice is still limited. This study describes associations between oral fluid biomarker measurements and farm indicators of health and performance in 18 commercial farms.

Results: Using principal component analysis, three clusters of farms were identified, differing mostly in weaner and finisher mortality, daily gain and antimicrobial resistance. These groups were then compared in terms of oral fluid biomarker profiles. With regards to farm group (cluster), haptoglobin was higher in pigs from low-performing farms, especially when compared with pigs from high-performing farms (P = 0.01). Oxytocin tended to decrease in pigs from high-performing farms to low-performing farms (P < 0.10), while procalcitonin tended to be lower in pigs from high-performing farms compared to intermediate-performing farms (P = 0.07). Using regression trees, haptoglobin measured in late finishers was associated with weaner and finisher mortality. Further, high creatine kinase and low procalcitonin early after weaning were associated with low piglet mortality, whereas low daily gain was related to high alpha-amylase in late weaners and high creatine kinase in pigs at the start of the finisher stage.

Conclusions: Haptoglobin, procalcitonin, oxytocin, creatine kinase and alpha-amylase, measured in oral fluid, should be further studied as good candidates to assess pig herds and predict performance at a batch level, through a non-invasive approach. Herd performance and health figures at a particular time point are not always available and alternative measures, like oral fluid biomarker results, could be useful to anticipate health and welfare issues and adjust management.

This study investigated the effects of dietary 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP) supplementation on growth performance, apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD), blood profile, intestinal morphology, transcriptomics, and microbial composition in weaned piglets. A total of twenty-four 28-day-old weaned piglets (Landrace × Large Yorkshire, 8.28 ± 1.09 kg) were randomly divided into 3 dietary treatments with 8 replicates. The dietary treatments include basal diet (CON), CON diet containing 250 or 500 mg/kg 5-HTP. The results revealed that supplementation with 250 mg/kg 5-HTP significantly increased (P < 0.05) the average daily gain (ADG) and resulted in a lower (P < 0.05) feed conversion ratio (FCR), while also decreased (P < 0.05) the diarrhea rate compared to the CON group. The ATTD of crude protein (CP) was lower in the 500 mg/kg group (P < 0.05) compared with the 250 mg/kg group. Furthermore, supplementation with 5-HTP led to significantly increased (P < 0.05) plasma albumin (ALB) and total protein (TP). In addition, supplementation with 5-HTP, particularly in the 250 mg/kg group, significantly increased (P < 0.05) serum serotonin (5-HT), growth hormone (GH) and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) levels, and improved the ratio of villus height to crypt depth in the jejunum and ileum. The transcriptomic analysis revealed that the majority of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) induced by 5-HTP were related to digestion and immunity in the ileum, and 5-HTP enhanced (P < 0.05) intestinal glucose transporter 2 (GLUT2), solute carrier family 1 member 1 (SLC1A1) and solute carrier family 7 member 7 (SLC7A7) mRNA expression in weaned piglets. Furthermore, supplementation with 250 mg/kg 5-HTP increased (P < 0.05) abundance of Firmicutes, Actinobacteriota, Lachnospiracea, Ruminococcaceae and Megasphaera and decreased (P < 0.05) abundance of Spirochaetes and Treponema. Collectively, the study demonstrated that 5-HTP supplementation, particularly at 250 mg/kg, positively impacted growth performance, gut health, and microbiome composition in weaned piglets. These findings suggest the potential of using 5-HTP as a dietary supplement to enhance the health and productivity of weaned piglets.

Background: Umbilical lesions in pigs have a negative impact on animal welfare and productivity. It has been suggested that lifting young piglets by one hind leg may be a risk factor for developing omphalitis and umbilical hernia. However, the hypothesis that lifting piglets by one hind leg should stretch the umbilical wall and impede the healing of the umbilicus has not yet been investigated. The present study examined if piglets caught, lifted, and carried by one hind leg have an increased risk of developing lesions in the umbilicus and the hind legs compared to piglets caught, lifted, and carried with support under the abdomen.

Materials and methods: In a commercial indoor sow herd, 1901 piglets were randomly allocated into two groups on the day of birth. Piglets in Group 1 (986 piglets) were caught, lifted, and carried by one hind leg (either left or right, as the same leg was not necessarily used each time). Piglets in Group 2 (915 piglets), were caught, lifted, and carried with support under the abdomen. All piglets were lifted 8-10 times during the first 14 days of life as a part of routine management procedures. From each group, 50 female piglets, 14 days old, were randomly selected and euthanised for necropsy and histopathological evaluation.

Results: The risk of having haemosiderophages in the umbilicus was 1.4 times higher in piglets caught, lifted, and carried by one hind leg compared to piglets caught, lifted, and carried with support under the abdomen (p = 0.01). No other variable differed significantly between the groups. Omphalitis was present in 68% and 58% of piglets in Groups 1 and 2, respectively. Moreover, umbilical herniation was present in 14% and 12% of piglets in Groups 1 and 2, respectively. Lesions were present in the hind legs of piglets in both groups and included synovial hyperplasia, neutrophilic granulocyte infiltration, oedema, and haemorrhage.

Conclusion: Female piglets caught, lifted, and carried by one hind leg did not have an increased risk of umbilical hernia, omphalitis, or joint lesions compared to piglets caught, lifted, and carried with support under the abdomen.